People are so hard to learn Isa 28.9 Therefore the Lord hath conferred upon the Church diversity of Gifts though they proceed from one Spirit He hath set in his Church not only Teachers but Prophets also and dare we despise Prophets or Prophesyings and say What need have we of these Ministrations Hath the Lord given diversly as to Degrees or Measures to one three to another five Tallents and shall he that hath received the least be thought unmeet to have the freedom to improve his Measure for his Lords Honour or his Brethrens Advantage or where the Lord bestows a larger Measure and his Servants are faithful in the Stewardship thereof dare any say the time is waste and the Message too long Not remembring that although he that can speak but five words understandingly must be accepted yet he which can speak ten must not be muzled or restrained Christ and his Spirit ought to be free Wherefore remember that saying of Paul Let no man blame us in this abundance which is administred by us 2 Cor. 8.20 And to cure this evil take this short direction Be more sensible of your want of the means of Grace and more humble spirited truly hungring and thirsting after Gospel-Ordinances Lastly Let it be a word of Exhortation If our Means and Provisions be abundant and redundant let not our fruitfulness be short lest what the Lord Jesus said to Jerusalem he say to us also The Kingdom shall he taken from you and given to a People bringing forth the Fruit thereof and he let out his Vineyard to other Husbandmen Matth. 21.34 41 43. with Heb. 6.8 How dreadful then will thy state and mine be to enjoy much means of Grace and to bring forth none or little Fruit by it Oh! consider this all you that forget God So much for the first Particular or word in the Text Moreover Now let us consider the next Particular which contains the Reason of what the Preacher said or did that is in these words Because the Preacher was Wise Before I go further Three things need some clearing or Exposition First How this suits with some other of Scripture-Expressions for Solomon to commend himself or to say the Preacher was Wife or Painful yea Useful also Secondly What a Preacher is or what this Preacher was Thirdly What this Wisdom is that is here spoken of For the clearing of the first thing Though this Book is Solomons and bears his Name and was by him Composed yet is it not clear that this Copy or these Words were his own But as David and other Kings had their Scribes and Pen-men which did write for them and wrote after them even so might Solomon and doubtless had as his Story in 1 Kings 4.3 compared with 2 Chron. 9.29 doth declare And so though he did not yet they well might set him forth But secondly Although in moral respects and at some time it is not fit for a man to commend himself yet in two respects a man may especially a Preacher so do and be innocent in so doing First in case of scandal he may vindicate himself from unjust aspersion and reproach So Samuel did the people had clouded and eclipsed his worthy and innocent Government 1 Sam. 8.4 5. therefore Chap. 12. he vindicates himself So also did Jeremiah Chap. 15.10 So Paul in 2 Cor. 10.3 7. so in Chap. 12. with that of Job 29. Secondly In furtherance of man's Work or Imployment a man may commend himself So Paul did 2 Cor. 2. and it Gal. 1.12 to 19. with chap. 2.6 7 8 9. Anâ— thus Nehemiah acted in chap. 5. from vers 14 to the close of the Chapter And thus I conceive if Solomon did commit this to the Churches Treasury from his own Hand or Pen in this latter sense he might humbly and innocently do it Bâ—â— possibly the stick or obscurity may be from thâ— Translators so rendring the Words for if thâ— words be thus read this difficulty is easily avoided and the sense preserved intire Moreover A Wisâ— Preacher will still give good heed and so it speak Duty and not Commendation Secondly Let me a little open this Particular What a Preacher is or this Preacher was that here is spoken of A Preacher is not onely such as are under Ministerial Unction or calling in Office oâ— Ministry But a Preacher is any or every such Person or Disciple of Christ that hath received Gifts of the Spirit to profit withal and is able to speak a word in due season to him that is weary for Edification Exhortation and Comfort and theâ—â— in Scripture are called Prophets or Prophesying Preachers as in that of Gen. 20.7 1 Cor. 12.28 And such a Prophetical or Prophesying Preacher was Solomon the Preacher in my Text and not an Official Ordained or Ministerial Preacher for such were only at that time the Tribe of Levi the High Priest Priests and Prophets Extraordinary But the Book tells us this Preacher was by Office a King not a Priest he was onely a Prophet or Membral Preacher even such a Preacher as that Church had many of and any Brother or Member of that Church who was able though not so able might as freely and as lawfully preach as Solomon as that passage Acts 13.15 compared with Luke 4.16 17. Ye men and brethren if you have any word of exhortation for the People say on And such Preachers Moses and Paul allowed Numb 11.29 And Moses said Enviest thou for my sake Would God that all the Lord's people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them compared with 1 Cor. 14.29 31. Let the Prophets speak and let the other judge for ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learn and all may be comforted Many other Testimonies may be added but because I shall speak to this more hereafter let this at present suffice The third thing to be cleared is What this Wisdom is or what is this Wisdom that Solomon saith the Preacher had and what that Wisdom is that every Preacher ought to have that will thus wisely or profitably Preach Wisdom as Solomon phraseth it doth not onely excel Folly Eccles 2.13 but Wisdom also excels Wit Wit is a quickness or acuteness of the Understanding to catch or apprehend things by But Wisdom is that depth of Reason and Judgment whereby Apprehensions Thoughts Sciences Purposes and Businesses are begun and compleated or are honourably profitably and regularly performed A Fool may have Wit only a Wise Man can have Wisdom or carry on his Design or Business wisely But still the Question is What Wisdom that is that is here treated of or is Preaching Wisdom even that Wisdom without which a man cannot be competent or profitable Preacher To which Question I Answer first Negativeâ— It is neither Moral Natural or acquired Wisdoâ— as Languages Tongues Arts or Sciences Thâ— I not only affirm but shall also confirm thouâ— when all is done no doubt but so saying mâ— make some
notice of you both at Hearing and when you omit and needlesly neglect to hear for he will not let his Name or Ordinances be taken in vain Exod. 20.7 Remember that Text Eccles 5.1 Take heed to thy foot when thou goest to the House of God and be more ready to hear than to offer the Sacrifice of Fools for they consider not that they do evil Men and Women must not think 't is hearing of men but hearing of God by men or through men it is not Man's Word or Ordinance but God's therefore take heed slight it not dally not with it the God of this most sacred Ordinance will not bear it at your hands Hearken what God saith 2 Chron. 24.19 Yet he sent unto them Prophets to bring them again unto the Lord and they testified against them but they would not give ear and the Spirit of the Lord came upon Zachariah the Son of Jehoiada the Priest which stood above the People and said unto them Thus saith God Why transgress ye the Commandment of the Lord that ye cannot prosper because ye have forsaken the Lord he hath also forsaken you Compare with this what you have Mat. 23.34 3â— 39. and then consider if there be not need to receive this Exhortation to take heed how you hear Oh! be not sleepy proud unbelieving forgetful unthankful or unfruitful hearers of the Worâ— of God for if the Lord Jesus when he broughâ— forth but barley Bread and small Fishes said Gather up the Fragments and let nothing be lost do you think then he will let such precious Breaâ— of Life which none but the Son of Man can givâ— you be lost John 6.12 Therefore to conclude Take heed that you despise not him that speaketh from Heaven in thâ— Ministry of the VVord Consider it and seâ— that you refuse not him that speaketh For if the escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth much more shall not we escape if we turn awâ— from him that speaketh from Heaven Heb. 12.25 Oh therefore be swift to hear though slow to speak against what you hear and let every one that hath ears to hear hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches Jam. 5.19 with Rev. 2.7 Thuâ— much for this first Observation Doct. 2. That which I noted from the opening of the words was That Prophetical Preaching or Prophesying by Saints or Brethren by vertue of Gifts and Membership without Office or Ministry conferred upon them is God's very Ordinance and a lawful way of Preaching Else Solomon how wise soever had sinfully Preached For the clearing of this Truth consider first what the Scripture speaks to this point First Moses that well understood the Mind of God was thus minded when he spake these words Enviest thou for my sake Would God that all the Lord's people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them Numb 11.29 Two things among others we may note here First That Moses did noâ— envy or disallow the Prophesying or Preaching of any that the Lord had made able and therefore puts by the envy and ignorance of those that did with this reply Enviest thou for my sake as if he had said you do evilly and sinfully in so doing Secondly Observe Moses how faithful soever in the House of God and against Usurpations and Innovations in the Church yet allows and approves that any one and every such one that the Lord should put his Spirit upon and make able might this do even Prophesie or Preach I would all the Lord's People were Prophets could and would Preach for I shall not forbid them Object 1. But if any shall Object and say This is not to the thing in hand For first these were eminent Elders and Officers or Rulers among the people and not private persons or ordinary Members of the Church I Answer Though it be granted that these were such even part of the seventy yet note they were not preaching Elders Secondly Neither preached they because such or such but because they had the Spirit and that moved and also filled them with matter and gave them utterance Thirdly Neither was this separation or pouring out of the Spirit mentioned vers 17. the Spirit of Preaching Gifts or Qualifications but the Spirit of Rule and Government as is most clear by considering what is offered 't was a portion of Moses Spirit to assist Moses not in Preaching but in Râ—ling and Governing Object 2. But if any shall object to this testimony That it proves not the thing for which it brought because this was extraordinary prophesying and these were immediate Prophets and not â—â—dinary or such as the Doctrine intends I answer True it is these were extraordinarâ— Persons but whether their Prophesying in thâ— place spoken of were extraordinary Preaching oâ— Prophesying doth not appear in this or any otheâ— place that I know of although I acknowledâ— there is such a kind of Prophesying But howeveâ— this is clear from this place That as many as tâ—â— Lord will spirit or qualifie for one or other sortâ— Preaching may and ought to Preach Else Mosâ— had wished too much and not answered the caâ—â— propounded but this may serve for this Object on But take a second VVitness which you haâ—â— 2 Chron. 17.7 8 9 10. where you find Jehâ—shaphat sent out his Princes as well as his Priest and Levites to Teach in the Cities of Judah anâ— the success was very glorious But take a third VVitness 1 Pet. 4.10 11 where we have the Apostle not only allowing but also provoking and enjoyning every man thâ— feareth the Lord to be a good Steward of the manifold Grace of God and he that hath receive that Gift of speaking a word in season is to minister and to speak according to that ability Goâ— giveth Take but one more 1 Cor. 14.29 31. wheâ— the Apostle allows and directs all the Prophets or prophesying Brethren in the Church to Prophefie Yea he asserts the truth of this Doctrine and justifies this for a lawful and laudable practice for so many in the Churches of the Saints as have preaching Gifts to Preach saying You may all prophesie one by one and let the Prophets prophesie and let no man forbid or envy it And thus the Preacher in my Text preached as a Prophet or Member of the Church not officially or as a Minister ordained unto this Work of Preaching is clear For by Office he was a King not a Preacher such were the high Priests and Levites only but our Preacher was a Membral Preacher or one exercising his Gifts according to his Liberty and Duty Yea our Lord Jesus who preached in the Jewish Synagogue and was allowed so to do thus he preached in the account of the Congregation not by virtue of that anointing by which he was Christ and Lord For though he were so yet they knew it not nor allowed it they only gave him the liberty and priviledge of other Members of the Church Such a priviledge was given
to Paul and the rest of his Companions Acts 13.15 when they said Ye Men and Brethren if you have any word of Exhortation for the people say on By all which we may see this Doctrine witnessed unto and confirmed beyond danger of any grounded or sober denyal to wit that every one that hath received the Spirit and Gifts for Preaching may yea ought to Preach and Exercise them But let me give you a few Reasons or Arguments to inforce this Reas 1. Else many should have Gifts and Talents for Preaching-work in vain but the Scripture tells us God made nothing in vain in tâ—â— first or natural Creation Even so the Lord Jeâ—â—â— in the new Creation hath dispensed nothing vain but for use and profit as we find it expressâ— in Ephes 4.12 It is the edifying of the Boâ—â— which is his end in giving Prophets as well as â—â—nisters to the Church But what edification of the Church have from such mens Gifts althougâ— they have sufficient Gifts to edifie the Church yâ— have no liberty so to do unless as our Opposâ—â—â— would have it they will undertake Ministry anâ— Ordination which many that are sufficiently qulified for prophetical Actions are not sufficient qualified for ministerial Imployments Reas 2. What we are bound to pray for tâ— enjoying of that we are to promote the attainâ—â— of But we are to pray that the Lord 's Harâ—â— may not want Labourers therefore we are if 〈◊〉 abled so to be even to be found labouring 〈◊〉 loytering in the Lord's Vineyard That we aâ— thus to pray you find Luke 10.2 with Mattâ— 9.37 38. The Harvest is truly great but tâ—â— Labourers are few Pray ye therefore the Lord the Harvest that he would send forth Labourâ—â—â— into his Harvest Therefore all such as are ableâ—â— Labour should go into the Harvest and there labour in the Word and Doctrine and not be idlâ— and only pray that the Labourers should be sent Reas 3. If not preaching when able to Preach be a thing that God will punish for then surely 〈◊〉 must be lawful for who-ever is able to Preach tâ— be found even so doing But that such as have Gisâ—â— and do not use and exercise them in Preaching shall be punished if not found Preaching is moâ—â— clear Therefore for all such to Preach as are able must needs be lawful That this is so examine these Scriptures Matth. 24.45 Who then is a faithful and wise Servant whom the Lord hath made Ruler over his Houshold to give them meat in due season But if that evil Servant shall say in his heart My Lord delayeth his coming and eat and drink with the Drunken The Lord of that Servant shall come in an hour that he is not aware of and shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with Hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth The like we have in chap. 25. where you have the sad judgment of the unprofitable Servant that though he had not Talents yet one small Gift or Talent Cast ye the unprofitable Servant into utter darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Take but one more Necessity saith Paul is laid upon me and wo unto me if I preach not the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.16 Reas 4. This is God's way though not Man's to fit Persons for Ministerial Imployments Therefore to Preach without Ministry in order to a qualification or fitness for Ministry must needs be lawful and approved That this is God's way of preparing men for Ministerial Dignity is most clear Acts 1.21 22. where Peter tells the Church That of those men that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out amongst us must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his Resurrection And this is that favour which the Lord promised in that Parable that he spake concerning the Talents That unto every one that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance Now this is the way to attain honourable Imployment in the Ministry to be sound faithful and fruitful in the work of Prophecy Having proved and cleared the Point let me now make some Application The first Vse is of Vindication The first shall be for Information or Vindication of all such Persons or Churches which sutable to this Doctrine thus practise and thus do even improve and exercise what Gift or Gifts the Lord hath intrusted them with for Preaching-work freely willingly faithfully and humbly as they have opportunity in publick Assemblies and Church-Fellowships though they be neither Prophets nor Prophets Sons that is neither educated in humane litteral Arts nor called or admitted into any Office of Ministry yet do Preach as the Spirit gives them utterance I say according to what hath been proved and opened in the Doctrine That the way and work of such is lawful for ye may all that fear the Lord and are able Prophesie one by one Women only excepted I say not only he that hath five Talents but he that hath but one Talent may publickly by Preaching improve it Mark I say not as some would have it that he that hath no Talent may Preach but every one only that sears the Lord and hath some sufficient degree or measure of Gifts for so doing Even he I do assert may and ought to Preach as he hath opportunity and let the Prophets judge 1 Cor. 14.29 32. Therefore know and consider this day ye Rabbies of the World ye learned separated and anointed Sons of Levi I mean you Clergy-men who are or would be the sole ingrossers and monopolizers of all Preaching-work in your own hands as the alone Sons Eli reproaching and condemning the Preaching of the Gospel by Illiterate or Mechanick men Lay-men or Trades-men as you please to call them as not only foolish and disorderly but an incroachment and usurpation upon the Priest's Office even the Sin of Corah Dathan and Abiram never remembring as you ought what the Lord saith Have you never read Out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings thou hast perfected praise Matth. 21.16 But since this Doctrine if not too dark is notwithstanding derogatory to the honour reputation and profit of the Learned Preachers of this day I shall a little consider of their learned but misapplyed Objections Object 1. How can the Preaching of the Brethren or private Christians in or unto the Church be parallel'd with the Act of those in that of Numb 16. those reproached Ministry even God's faithful Ministers Moses and Aaron crying out You take too much upon you vers 3 4. but so do not the Prophesying Ones they own Christ's Ministers and Official Ones and their Preaching and Administrations to be of Christ and not too much for such alone to be ministerially exercised in and so did not those Secondly These were Ministers but not content with their own Function or Ministry they aspired to another higher even Aaron and Moses 's Ministry as appears vers 9 10 11. But the Prophets that
pretend to a liberty to Preach neither pretend or affirm that every Preacher is an Official or Ordainâ— Minister of the Lord Jesus neither do they aspiâ— to equality or superiority with or above others 〈◊〉 Christ's Ministring Ones but acknowledge they aâ— neither the one nor the other of Christ's Gospel Ministry but Members in particular But thirdly Note There is no agreement be tween the design of those men and the work of theâ—â— men I plead for their design was sacrificing or offering Incense the work onely of Aaron and hiâ— Sons 't was Censering not Preaching as is cleâ—â— vers 15 16 17 18. But the highest of those meâ— or this Doctrines design is Preaching not offering or performing Ministerial Function but privaâ— Mens and Brethrens liberty as hath been prove from that passage Ye may all prophesie or Pread one by one To as little purpose will that Text answer our Clergy-mens design and errant for which they improve as this Numb 16. I mean thâ—â— 1 Cor. 7.20 Let every Man abide in the samâ— Calling wherein he was called This might if it had been written at that time have been applyed aptly by Moses in the businesâ— he had in hand but what is all this against the lawfulness of private Christians Preaching Preaching though an excellent Work is no peculiar Calling but may be performed by Persons of another Calling neither do such as assert our practice iâ— this way of Preaching depart from their Callings or not abide therein though this is no satisfaction to their Adversaries therefore these feeble Objections will not suffice to rational Christians enlightned in this Doctrine as sufficient to oppose this way of Preaching Therefore know and consider this day what I shall affirm till you can more substantially oppose it to wit That it is lawful and laudable a Liberty yea a Duty incumbent upon every Man that feareth the Lord and hath received the Gift to speak a word in due season for Edification Exhortation and Comfort to use and exercise the Gifts he hath received of the Lord in Prophesying or Preaching in the Congregation That all may learn and all may be edified 1 Cor. 14.31 Therefore not onely may Pastors or Teachers but any Brother of the Church that is qualified whether Young or Old Servant or Master Son or Father Rich or Poor Learned or Unlearned of what Imployment or Calling soever whether Miller or Merchant Inn-keeper or Shoop-keeper Brick-layer or Taylor Cobler or Shoo-maker one or other lawful Imployment For ye are all one in Christ Jesus Gal. 3.8 Thus much for this Use The second Vse is for Exhortation But a second Use and the all that I shall make of this Doctrine is That if Prophesying or Preaching of Brethren or such as have not received any Office or Ministry from Christ be an Ordinance of Christ and the duty of such as have received Gifts for Preaching to Preach Then two things from hence I may add First A word of Exhortation to all the Churches of the Saints to allow admit and incourage the Gifted-Brethren in this Work and Business of Preaching Oh! be not so like to Antichrist and his Synagogue as to forbid this liberty of the Saints which Christ hath so dearly purchased with his most precious Blood Consider what the Lorâ— saith to those Disciples of his who told him That they saw one casting out Devils in his Name which followed him not and they forbad him but Marâ— the Answer of Christ Forbid him not Mark 9.38 39. Will not Christ have such forbad that follow not him or his Disciples and will you my Brethren forbid such as follow the Lamb yea and follow you too because not Ministers as you are or competent or equal in Gifts with you My Brethren I beseech you do not this wickedness it smells of Rome of an Antichristian spirit but think what the Lord saith He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad Mat. 12.30 You that will not joyn issue with Christ in furthering and permitting such to Preach whom Christ allows to Preach you even all you who ever you be how Wise and Learned and Pious soever yet are you against Christ and for Antichrist Enemies to Preaching though never so great Preachers and it were well you would please to suffer me to commend two Scriptures to your serious consideration The first is that of the Apostle Be of the same mind one towards another mind not high things but condescend to men of low degree or estate Be not wise in your own conceits Rom. 12.16 The second Scripture is that of Peter Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being Ensamples to the Flock 1 Pet. 5.2 3. But secondly Let this be a second Branch of this Use to exhort all such even such or so many as have received but one Talent or the least dogree of real competency or fitness though neither Prophets or Prophets Sons but of the meanest or most contemptible condition or Calling amongst men to Preach and that in season and out of season O remember it is your duty your Priviledge you may preach all one by one you are not only made Kings but Priests and this Priestly Act you yea any Gifted Believer may perform Rev. 1.6 Beloved Preaching is God's Ordinance his Peoples Blessing and your Duty O therefore Preach as well as Pray continually forget not that exhortation As every Man hath received the Gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold Grace of God 1 Pet. 4.10 Brethren let not your fellow Spies discourage you by telling you of the Sacredness Excellency and difficulty of Preaching But as every man hath received so minister the same as of the ability God giveth that in all things God may be glorified 1 Pet. 4.11 Remembring for your encouragement two Scriptures 2 Cor. 8.12 For if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that a man hath not Secondly Think on these words of Christ For unto every one that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath Mat. 25.29 Therefore quench not the Spirit 1 Thess 5.19 But what the Disciple said I may say to you The Lord hath need of it Luke 19.34 The Souls of Sinners call for your Labours yea the wants of your dear Brethren call for your words of Exhortation Edification and Comfort therefore be not wanting in the practice of this Ordinance even this great Ordinance of Preaching the Gospel Therefore my Brethren be stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord for aâ— much as you know your Labour is not in vain in the Lord. Thirdly Let this Doctrine
these things as you have it seeing yâ—â— know these things but they he describes and call unlearned are those he mentions in the second Chapter of this Epistle whom he calls false Prophets and false Teachers Note It is not the unlearned Hearers but the learned Preachers that are the perverters and deceivers of the People through mistaking Paul's Writings and other Scriptures These are the Men the Church and the World are only beholden to for privily bringing in damnable Heresies and causing the Truth of God to be evil spoken of Vers 1 2. These are the Brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed speaking evil of the things they understand not even the Saints and the Scripture and the waies of God Vers 12. These learned Prophets are the Welâ— without water and the Clouds carried with a Tempest vers 17. These are the men that Speak great swelling words of vanity and allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonness those that were clean escaped from them who live in Error So that we may boldly conclude That Humane Learning and Wisdome is neither Prophets nor Preachers wisdome or fit furniture for such work But because I foresee that Demetrius and his learned Crafts-men will make no small stir about this Doctrine concerning Humane Learning I shall lay down some Arguments to back and confirm what hath been said Arg. 1. If Humane Wisdome or Learning be essential to qualifie a Preacher for preaching then the Scripture Rule concerning a Preachers-qualification is imperfect and obscure which is sinful to imagine because it neither requireth or provideth for such low earthly-membring Qualifications as Tongues and Sciences which teaches Preachers not to preach without it What the Scripture requires as a Preachers Qualification you may read 1 Acts 4.5 It is the promise of the Father expounded vers 5. to be the Baptism of the Holy Ghost So 1 Timoth. 2.2 to the 7.2 Tim. 2.2 and 15. with Chap. 3.14 15 16 17. Arg. 2. If Humane Learning or Wisdome be the Preachers Wisdome then the best of Preachers have slighted and neglected the main or grand Qualification 1 Corin. 2.1 And I Brethren when I came unto you I came not unto you with excellency of Speech or of Wisdome declaring unto you the testimonies of God And Paul gives the reason of his so doing For I determine not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ Vers 2. and again saith he My Speech and my Preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdome but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power vers 4. yet Paul would have the Rabbies and Sticklers for enticing words and mans wisdome know That his illiterate Preaching was perfectly accomplisht Preaching Howbeit we speak wisdome among those that be perfect yet not the wisdome of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come 〈◊〉 nought vers 6. Take but one place more Act. 4.13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men they marvelled mark these marvelous Preachers had preached most publickly and resolved still to preach as publickly yet neither had this Wisdome or Learning but were ignorant and unlearned and resolved so to remain Therefore clear it is this wisdome is not Preachers wisdome else these great Preachers could not have wanted it or which is all one if they had it 〈◊〉 improving it about this great work which some say doth so fit men for it Therefore this Wisdome in Controversie cannot be Preachers wisdome Thirdly Take this Argument to prove that Humane Learning is not the Preachers Wisdome because then many both allowed and enjoined to Preach would be found unable to preach through want of this furniture or wisdome as many oâ— the Prophets or prophesying Members of thâ— Church who though they have the gifts of the Spirit and have passed through the New-birthâ— yet have never attained this Wisdome or sat at Gamaliel's Feet But such may be allowed of as competent Preachers as I have largely proved in the Second Doctrine Arg. 4. The consideration of who is the Spring of Gospel-preaching will make it necessarily appear that humane Wisdom is not the Preachers Wisdom but the Lord Jesus and not man's how learned soever Ephes 4.7 to 15. Vnto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ and so forward compared with Rev. 19.10 which saith The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophesie Arg. 5. Take this Argument why I affirm that the Wisdom that the Gospel-Preacher ought to have is not humane Learning or Wisdom because the Gospel is that which is to be Preached not humane Wisdom or Excellency nor the Gospel in a way of humane Wisdom or Excellency Nay the Gospel is in the very nature thereof contrary to humane Excellency being plain and simple though most holy and pure in the Nature and Administrations thereof therefore needs not Arts or Sciences to comprehend or reveal it Nay the Apostle seems to imply that Learning mixed with or used in the Preaching of the Gospel doth but corrupt or sophisticate and adulterate it as the Fly doth the Apothecaries Box of Oyntment Eccl. 10.1 2 Cor. 2.17 But to proceed Arg. 6. Take this Argument The Subjects or Persons to whom the Gospel is to be preached or predicated are not the Orators Wise and Excellent of Wit but the Simple the Vulgar the Mean and Contemptible according to that word Mat. 11.5 The poor have the Gospel preached 〈◊〉 them 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28. And Christ said That he was anointed to Preach the Gospel to 〈◊〉 poor Therefore they need not learned that 〈◊〉 humanely learned Preachers but spiritual wâ—â— Physitians What need French-men to speak them that only understand English Or need Man Geometry or Mathematick Logick or Râ—torick to Preach to Men and Women of no hâ—â— mane Understanding Only God hath promisâ— to teach them so much spirituality as conceâ—â— their Souls But as to this glorious literature 〈◊〉 but as the gilded Trappings upon an Ass to maâ— him to be respected Arg. 7. To require or injoyn humane Learâ—ing or Wisdom as necessary or essential to eveâ— Gospel-Preacher is to require that for a requiâ—â— which is directly contrary to the main end of Gâ—spel-Preaching which is to Preach Christ and Knowledge unto the People and not to Preach 〈◊〉 Preacher or his Knowledge into the People 〈◊〉 great end of Gospel-Preaching is not to Preaâ— forth or declare man's breeding or learning in the People or to shew the Preachers excellency 〈◊〉 humane things or excellencies or breeding up mâ— in worldly or humane Knowledge but to tâ— men from Darkness to Light and from the Pâ—â— of Satan into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of Gâ— and to edifie and build up such as are converted the Knowledge and Grace of our Lord Jeâ—â— Christ Arg. 8. If the Church even every unlearneâ— Church in humane Learning must judge and 〈◊〉 the
sâ—berly say of these great Rabies of our Day whâ— the Apostle saith Rom. 1.22 Professing to be wisâ—â— they became fools Surely even so hath God 〈◊〉 fooled this wise Generation and discovered thâ—â— our World hath many grave and gay Fools Eveâ— many more then wear motly-Coats even most 〈◊〉 the Professors of Divinity as they please to stiâ—â— themselves our Grave and Orthodox Roman Clergy I say This Generation how lofty soever theiâ— eyes are are not washed from their filthiness 〈◊〉 not of being sordidly ignorant what scripturally will qualifie sufficiently and essentially unâ—â— Preaching-Imployment Prov. 30.12 13. Nay so ignorant are they of a Preacher's Qualification that some and they no small men amongst that Tribe have openly declared That without a Miracle it is impossible to be a sufficient Preacher to Preach the Gospel of Christ without having sat at the feet of Gamaliel or be brought up in an University as if it were not possible with God even without any Miracle to kill Goliah by the hand of little David when the Sons of Mars stand by and can do nothing Even so this Clergy would perswade us God's little David's Spiritual and Experienced Christians cannot Preach except armed with an University-burthen upon their backs Though God hath most abundantly by innumerable Instances disproved this Fallacy yet once more let me rebuke the madness and make manifest the folly of these Prophets even those learned but ignorant false-Prophets who assert That Humane Learning only can qualifie unto this end Yea that it alone without saving-Grace and the Fellowship of the Spirit of God can make sufficient Ministers to go forth and Preach the Gospel to Children of Men especially if a Bishop do but Ordain them and say Receive the Holy Ghost as plentiful experience witnesseth and their Canons and Book of Ordination of Priests and Deacons declareth where the Scripture-Qualifications are left out and others set up Well to conclude this Use let these Prophets that fill the World with Priests and Preachers of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat's Order of whom we read 1 Kings 12.31 And he made Priests of the lowest and basest of the People which were not of the Sons of Levi. But let these hear what the Lord saith to them that have apostatised from the right way These mad Prophets these Wells without water these Clouds carried with a tempest 2 Pet. 2.15 16 17. Even thus saith the Lord God Wo unto the foolish prophets that follow their own spirit and have seen nothing Ezek. 13.3 The second Vse is for Reproof Secondly This might reprove the darkness and delusion that is crept into and seized on too many godly sober well-meaning Christians and Professors that have dwelt so long in Egypt they can swear by the Life of Pharaoh that is haâ—â— traded too long with Antichrist's Clergy men that now they dare even swear to the truth of it thaâ— no man but a Scholar of that sort they intend either can or ought to meddle with Preaching saying Let every one keep in his own Calling and 〈◊〉 go beyond his last forgetting that the Lord hath said Ye may all Prophesie one by one 1 Cor. 14.31 And that by the alone study of the Scriptures The Man of God may be throughly furnished uâ—â—â— every good Word and Work 2 Tim. 3.17 Oh let me beseech you Have not mens Persons and Part so in admiration as to plead for Baal and call Good Evil and Evil Good speaking evil of things you know not but search the Scripture diligently and humbly and you will find other qualifications appointed as necessary and sufficient for Preaching without that I have so opposed unless the smoke of the Bottomless-Pit hath put out your eyes Rev. 9. Oh my Brethren all you that fear the Lord be more Scripturally-wise and Learned your selves and then you will easily and plainly see the vanity ignorance and emptiness of your supposed Orthodox Teachers but I shall sparâ— you as being rather led than Leaders of your selves seeing in this Point with other mens eyes All I shall further do for you is to pray for you as sometime Elisha prayed for his Servants saying Lord I pray thee open his eyes that he may see and the Lord opened his eyes and he saw the Mountains full of Horses and Chariots of fire round about Elisha 2 Kings 6.17 Even so say I for all the Saints who are contrary minded to this Gospel-Truth Lord open the eyes of thy dear Children my dissenting Brethren to see by thy Light even the Light of Scripture that Grace-saving Sanctifying-Grace and the Gifts and fellowship of the Spirit without Humane or Vniversity Preparations are truly fully most abundantly sufficient to make Christ's Gospel-Preachers wise enough for Soul-conversion and the edification of the Body in love And thus much for the second Use I now come to a Third The third Vse is of Information Thirdly Thus may I inform whence the Romish and Learned Clergy-men of our day do so blaspheme and oppose the Spirits-Teaching 't is surely because of their ignorance and sinful interest This was the reason why Zedechiah Son of Chenaanah went near and smote Micaiah on the cheek 1 Kings 22.24 This also was the cause why Sanbalat and Tobiah and their Companions did so reproach good Nehemiah and obstruct the Work of the Temple Nehem. 2.19 with chap. 6.1 2. And the same reason there was why the Priests and Captains of the Temple and the Sadducees came and opposed and persecuted the Apostles Acts 4.1 2. And even at this very day the same reason is why the Priests and Prelates of our day do so exclaim and reproach the Spirits teaching and the Spiritual-Ministers teaching It is their own interest of profit and ignorance of Truth and right way of fitting men for Preaching though they are ignorant of God's Will in this thing yet are they well acquainted that iâ— this kind of Truth and these sort of Preachers go up their Trade Honour and Profits will soon go down according to that saying The Fruits which thy Soul lusteth after are departed from thee and all things which are dainty and goodly are departed from thee and thou shalt find them no more at all Rev. 18.14 And this is the reason why these covetous Clergy-men do so cry out against this way of Preaching by men spiritually wise but otherwise illiterate and unlearned because such Preachers if allowed will soon cloud their Glory and eclips their Credit and humble their Pride and hinder their Markets and who then can wonder that these so reproach the true Gospel-Preachers they must blaspheme and gnaw their tongues for pain therefore it is not to be wondred at as long as this Antichristian-Priesthood endureth as we have it Rev. 11.10 There can be no joy to them that dwell thus in or upon earthly Things Orders Riches Credit and Authority You may as well look for Peace from Hell as from the Learned Romish-Priesthood Rev. 12.17 Therefore cease marvelling
Spirit saith to hear and receive even still to teach the people knowledge Rev. 6.7 So much for this fifth Doctrine I should come now to a second particular offered from this first Act of the wise Preacher That he still taught the people knowledge that is He went forward and made progression in Preaching He did not stick or remain upon first Principles but rose higher and higher in his Preaching he still taught the people knowledge that is higher measures and degrees of knowledge As he was wisely diligent so was he wisely proceeding and going forward from step to step in the degrees and measures of his Knowledge and Preaching The Point of Doctrine hence is Doct. That wise Preachers are prospering or thriving Preachers They are not only diligent and constant Preachers but also they are growing Preachers he still taught the people knowledge that is more and higher knowledge This was shadowed out in the Waters of the Sanctuary which rose first to the Ancles then to the Knees then to the Loyns afterward to a River that could not be passed over Even so do Preaching Qualifications in a wise and painful Preacher who as Paul saith when in their Childhood or first entrance may speak like Children and act like Children yet when they grow up to be men they will Speak Preach and Act like men 1 Cor. 13.11 This is that which is promised Psal 1. where David tells us The blessedness of the man that walketh not in the way of the ungodly but his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in that Law doth he meditate day and night he shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of Water that bringeth forth his Fruit in season His leaf shall not wither but whatsoever he doth shall prosper This is the blessing of not onely the Godly Christian but especially of the truly wise and Godly Preacher he shall grow and flourish The like promise we have in Psalm 92.12 13 14 15. where the Psalmist tells us how it will fare with Righteous and Wise Preachers They shall flourish like the Palm-Tree and grow like the Cedar in Lebanon Those that be plauted in the House of the Lord shall flourish in the Court of our God they shall bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing to shew that the Lord is upright This also Paul implies in that saying of his to Timothy 1 Epist 4.15 That thy profiting may appear to all men Thus we see the Point a little confirmed but because this Truth has in part already been spoken to and will necessarily fall under consideration in another place I shall say no more to the proof of this but only make one Use from it and that is for encouragement to all wise and painful Preachers The fourth Vse is of Encouragement Know assuredly the Lord will bless your Seed and the fruit of your increase You may reckon your selves Children that cannot speak in the Name of the Lord but the Lord hath told you He will be with you and make you as a defenced City and an Iron Pillar and a Brazen Wall Jer. 1.6 7. compared with vers 18. Oh! be encouraged to be sound faithful and diligent for though you may go out to Preach as Jacob went forth from his Fathers House when he said With my staff I passed over this Jordan but now I am become two Bands Gen. 32.10 Even so you faithful Preachers shall have a time to say to the Glory of Free-Grace I am become two Bands The Lord hath promised That his Spirit shall lead you not only unto Truth but from Truth to Truth till you are guided into all Truth John 16.13 Therefore be encouraged to persist and go on in Preaching the Word in season and out of season for the Lord is with you and he will uphold your goings in his Paths Oh Beloved be neither discouraged at your own weakness nor your many discouragements for the Righteous shall flourish like the Palm therefore still teach the people knowledge guide them by the skilfulness of the Lord's hand upon you from Truth to Truth from first Principles to higher and more ennobling Conclusions Be not Children in your knowledge but go on towards perfection as good Ministers of Jesus Christ Preachers that receive freely or largely of the Spirit should give forth as freely and still teach the people knowledge As Preachers grow in knowledge they should seek that the people might grow in knowledge also as waters of knowledge flow into them so should they flow forth unto the people for as your day is so shall your strength be Jesus Christ hath promised to be with you alwayes in such work Matth. 28. And to conclude take the Counsel of Solomon Eccles 9.10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave whither thou goest You labouring Ones in this Work of the Lord feed on that Promise Mat. 13.12 For whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance And to close take that good word 1 Cor. 15.58 Therefore my beloved Brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. I now come to the next particular in the Text which is the Matter which the Preacher preached that is Knowledge He still taught the people Knowledge it was knowledge the Preacher taught He Preached not to make himself known or his knowledge known but to make the people know for he still taught the people knowledge One Question may from hence be asked and that is What Knowledge is Or secondly What knowledge this is the wise Preacher taught the people To speak a little to the first Query What knowledge is It is the opposite to ignorance and consists in the enlightning or informing the Understanding either concerning the Author or the Nature of things or the End and Use of things I say knowledge is an enriching excellency enabling men to make true judgment concerning things He that is destitute of knowledge knows not how to discern things or to difference one thing from an other But I shall not inlarge here though I might add there is a double sort of knowledge Natural and Supernatural or the knowledge of things or objects Divine and Heavenly or the knowledge of things or objects Natural This Supernatural knowledge consists either in the knowledge of God or his Will or the knowledge of our selves or others But secondly It may be inquired What this knowledge in particular is which the Preacher taught the people spoken of in the Text I Answer Not humane knowledge or understanding and skill in worldly things but it is knowledge of Divine things or Heavenly things More particularly it may be distinguished into the knowledge of God as in Himself Attributes and Word Considered secondly It consists in the knowledge of our
Preachers as seek not yours but you that your Souls may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus I say Let this justifie the exactness and diligence of those that in the dividing of the Word make it their business to divide it aright and to omit nor lose nothing of all the Riches of such Scriptures as the Spirit of the Lord opens to them but endeavour to make full proof of their Ministry in a ministration of the All committed to their trust following that Direction of our Lord Gather up the Fragments that nothing be lost John 6.12 So these painful and laborious Bees move from Flower to Flower that is from Text to Text and from Syllable to Syllable that they may help you to Honey that by Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little seek to impart to you the whole Counsel of God I say Let such Preachers be justified and not taxed as at this day by some who make use of that saying What need this waste Mat. 26.8 What need this curiousness this tediousness so much dwelling upon a Text Why let this serve to Answer such Is there not a cause when it is required of a Steward to be sound faithful And this is faithful dealing with Jesus Christ and his Word to let nothing be lost But again secondly If your Preachers wise Preachers do give good heed and consider the state of the Flock and whereof they have need and do deal home and plainly with your Consciences in all faithfulness not sparing any man or flattering any man or pleasing any man but dealing faithfully with all men as approving themselves to God Why then consider I pray you It is required of Stewards to be faithful and such are Stewards even of the manisold Grace of God and therefore it is required of them that they be faithful Oh let this justifie all wise holy humble diligent painful faithful Preachers that seek to turn many from their iniquity that give good heed and all diligence so to Preach that they may declare that they have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness not handling the Word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the Truth Commending our selves to every man's Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4.2 And so much for this Use and this Point I now come to the next Word and Work of a wise Preacher that is He sought out This is the next Work and to search or seek out A good or a wise Preacher doth not only give out and not keep in any thing of all that good Knowledge or Will of the Lord Jesus made out to his Soul But further he seeks or searches out after more of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ to be further imparted to him in what is in part known by him or in what as yet of Christ is not manifest but hid from him and them and may be imparted to them For the choicest or most comprehending Servant or Preacher of the Lord Jesus knows but in part and prophesies but in part and therefore had need to search enquire or hunt after that of the mind of Christ yet behind or unknown of him and which may for ought he knows be made manifest to him Three things I suppose this Phrase may import First To examine and receive things already viewed or known Secondly To clear and discharge what we know from what-ever Objections or Cavils might be brought against what we know or conceive we know Thirdly To seek out is to endeavour to get either fresh Visions of God in our Souls or further and exacter insight into such Visions of God as already we have received All this seems clearly implyed in this Act of the wise Preacher as is most clear by considering the next word And set in order or in their due order many Proverbs The Work of the truly or spiritually wise Preacher is to search or seek after or search or seek into the knowledge of whaâ— is known or should be known or may be known This is the Trade of God's Commands in order to a Preacher's Duty Doct. 8. The Doctrine hence may be this That the wise Preacher's Work is not an easie but an hard task to attain the comprehension or full understanding requisite to be found in every Minister of Christ His life is a continued act of seeking or enquiring after fuller discoveries of the mind of Christ This is plainly implyed in this phrase he sought out or sought after or sought into the way of setting Parables in order To clear up this Point two things need proving First That the Preacher's Task or Duty is an hard Task or Duty Secondly His life is a continued Act of learning the mind of Christ As he doth not do all at once he hath to do for Christ neither doth he searn all at any one season he hath to learn from Jesus Christ He is alwayes doing and alwayes learning until he dies Therefore is the Preacher's Work hard Work This Moses well understood Exod. 3d 4th and 6th Chapters This Jeremiah also apprehended in his first Chapter And this Paul concludes concerning his Ministry 1 Cor. 16.15 But not to heap up testimonies for a thing so clear Consider this namely what the Preacher's Work is resembled to First 'T is called a Warfare or they are resembled to valiant Souldiers and a Souldier's life is a lâ—fe of hazard and hardship even so is the Preachers Secondly 'T is stiled a Watchmâ—â—'s life and to be a good Watch-man is a hard life and laborious Thirdly He is called a Shepherd and that is no easie life Fourthly They are called Husband-men and Labourers and Builders all which prove Preaching to be a hard Work But to make this more clear consider 't is a Trade or Business that is alwayes carrying on I had almost said night and day and therefore sure it can be no easie but hard Work because it is perpetual Work But such is the Preacher's Work He must not onely be alwayes preaching but alwayes learning yea learning while teaching in looking after the Mind of Christ His Work is never done alwayes doing running on more and more after fresh and fuller discoveries of the Will of God 'T is an every day yea night and day study of the Word and Wayes of God he sought out 't is opened to us in Prov. 2.1 2 3 4. 'T is a Work a man must cry for seek for yea â—â—g for and hunt for that intends to find it compared with Job 3.21 Take one passage more wheâ—e good and wise Preachers may be resembled to Servants and the Hand maids David speaks of Psal 123.2 Or to the good Woman perceiving that her Merchandizing Commodity is good therefore her Candle goeth not out by night From all which may easily be gathered what a hard and difficult constant and painful life and labour the wise Preacher's labour and life is Thus much for the proof of the
heed that we open not the mouths of the uncircumcised Philistines to rejoyce or blaspheme Let Professors know what they can and talk what they will 't wil signifie little unless they walk also in this Spirit of Truth and Uprightness Vse of Exhortation But secondly and especially Let this be matter of Exhortation to us all even as many as fear the Lord both Preachers and Hearers to labour for and walk in a Spirit of Truth and Uprightness This we have seen is a most excellent choice frame of Spirit in the esteem both of God and Man Oh therefore labour to attain such a frame of Spirit For naturally our Spirits are otherwise in the frames of them for what the Prophet once said is still truth Every one is an hypocrite and an evil doer and every mouth speaketh folly or falshood Isa 9.17 'T is Mortification of earthly Members and Sanctification of the Spirit must make us Men or Women of this frame of Spirit for naturally we are born of another temper and you who know what Mortification is know it is not easie work to mortifie the deeds of the flesh but be it what it may be yet be prevealed upon in the fear of the Lord to set upon this duty even to get our Spirits into this frame even into this good frame and if it will cost us the plucking out of our right eyes or cutting off our right hands yet subscribe to it And first Let me freely tender this word of Exhortation to us that are Preachers and should be wise Preachers seeking out acceptable words and that which by us is at any time preached and written upon the heart of the People should be upright even words of truth Let us be a living Word as well as a speaking Word let our lips and our lives joyn together and speak one thing even Holiness to Jehovah Oh let not us reprove sin in others and allow or indulge it in our selves What is that but down-right dissimulation Oh let us not commend Patience and be impatient and Humility and be Sons of Pride our selves This is not to walk with the foot of uprightness according to the Gospel This is not to be a wise but an unwise Preacher if not a proud Pharisee and a very Hypocrite Wherefore if a Preacher be under such temptations as to pretend Christ and preach Self and to seek Christ and seek mostly Self as to cry down all sin and yet live in cry'd down sins to commend Grace and Vertue and yet live short in Grace and empty of Virtue placing thy excellency and piety in seeming so and saying so and in washing the out-side neglecting the inside make broad the Phylacteries and enlarging the borders of your Garments that is in using singular or peculiar restraints and modes of Gesture and Vesture from other sober and pious Persons Oh know 't is not marring of our Beards or Locks and having our Cloaks long and our Girdles strait that can or will prove us wise Preachers or men of this excellent Spirit of Uprightness and Truth Oh no! we may be Fools and Hypocrites for all this and therefore it nearly stands us upon to do as that great Preacher and Apostle of the Gentiles did Even to keep under or beat black and blew our body and bring it into subjection lest O mark it that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast-away 1 Cor. 9.27 And answer all temptations to contrary-mindedness or contrary-spiritedness to this Doctrine and frame of Spirit as good Nehemiah did saying Shall such a man as I flee Who being as I am would desist Chap. 6.11 So let us Who that is as I am a Man Ah more than a Man a Christian yea more than a Christian a Preacher to Christians that would seek great things for himself under pretence of seeking great things for Christ Oh who that were a Preacher as I and preached down Covetousness Idleness Earthly-mindedness in others would live in these things himself Oh no my Soul I will not I dare not lest I be not found a wise but an unwise Preacher and that which by me is written or preached be not words of Truth and Uprightness And in the Close what-ever I may be to others I be to my self a cast-away O therefore let Preachers especially receive and improve this Exhortation and see that our conversation be only as becometh the Gospel Phil. 1.27 And to close up this Head of Exhortation Let as many as are and would be found wise Preachers be perswaded to think often and deeply of that Scripture 2 Cor. 4. Therefore seeing we have this Ministry as we have received Mercy we faint not but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth commending our selves to every man's Conscience in the sight of God Having thus tendred my Mite to Preachers let me now be your Exhorter that are Hearers Men and Women fearing the Lord Oh let this be your frame of Spirit be like your Father Jacob of a plain Spirit who hath his commendation in his youth that he was a plain man Gen. 25.27 Oh such let us that fear the Lord be let our inside be manifest by our out-side let our Words and our Works agree our professions both to God and Man and our performances agree and correspond together let our Light and our Life agree our publick and private walking agree so shewing forth that we are Israelites indeed in whom there is no guile Even the Epistle of Christ written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of Stone but in fleshly Tables of the heart as we have it 2 Cor. 3.3 Oh 't is living forth this Doctrine will speak us forth clearly to be Christians or the Epistles of Christ when we have such frames of Spirit as are throughly seasoned with Uprightness and Truth Christians look to your frame of Spirit Hypocrites can look to their Words and Speeches Look you to your Hearts good Words and good Works Hypocrites have for God 't is Saints onely have good Hearts for God Oh look well to your Spirits how the frame stands bent whether for Truth and Uprightness or for Falshood and Hypocrisie and forget not that word Mal. 2.15 Take heed to your Spirits Oh dress your Spirits with Truth and Uprightness for the dress of the Soul goes further with God than all the dresses of the Body with men can do as Peter informs us where he advises Women Not to let their adorning be outward adorning but let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which in the fight of God is of great price 1 Pet. 3.3 4. Oh my Brethren look mostly after the dress and adorning of your Spirits for God is not only a Spirit but converseth most with
able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them which are Sanctified Your Servant for Christ STEPHEN MORE TO THE READER Christian Reader ALthough there is nothing new or strange now to be presented to thy view for as Solomon saith The thing that hath been it is that which shall be and that which is done is that which shall be done and there is no new thing under the Sun Is there any thing whereof it may be said See this is new It hath been already of old time which was before us Eccles 1.9 10. Wherefore let me intreat thee peruse this Book for Truth and not for Novelty lest so doing thou lose thy labour and reap no profit by thy pains And if any shall meet thee with their Out-cry crying Take heed for here are strange things presented to your eyes say No for there is nothing new or strange under the Sun And if any thing here written be to any strange I must take leave to tell them 'T is because they know not the Scripture and are strangers in Jerusalem and have not known the things that are come to pass there in these dayes Luke 24.18 And if any should yet retort upon me as a troubler of Israel or a bringer forth of strange Things or new Doctrines to their ears I will not think it strange to be thus dealt with for thus dealt their Fathers with the Prophets and Apostles in that first Book of Kings we find that thus Ahab said to Elijah Art thou he that troubleth Israel But he answered I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy Father's House in that ye have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord and hast followed Baalim vers 17 18. And thus was holy Paul served Acts 17. where you read That certain Philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoicks encountered him and some said What will this Babler say other some He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange Godds because he preached unto them Jesus and the Resurrection And they took him and brought him unto Areopagus saying May we know what this new Doctrine whereof thou speakest is for thou bringest certain strange things to our ears we would know therefore what these things mean vers 18 19 20. Therefore if such things befal me I shall not be moved for if thus they dealt with the green Trees marvel not they thus deal with the dry Wherefore Christian Reader notwithstanding such Out-cries as these which probably thou mayest meet with yet be pleased to read on and consider what is said and the Lord give thee understanding in all things that thou mayest search the Scriptures and try whether the things asserted for truth be so or no for no more is imposed upon your Faith than what evidence of Scripture doth demonstrate to be the Faith of Jesus and of his Elect and if any Fathers in our Israel shall say To what purpose is this waste Preachers doubtless know their Duty well enough it were well if others knew theirs better I shall only Answer these over-wise ones in the language of Job No doubt but ye are the People and wisdom shall die with you Chap. 12.2 Yet bear with me to shew my Love to Christ and offer my Mite to you remembring what Paul saith And if any man think that he knoweth any thing he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 And if you know these things already O how happy shall both you and I be when we shall be found doing the things we say we know and are here revealed And as for others or our Hearers know so far as the Work called for it they are not forgotten but remember that the more fully the Preacher lives up to his Duty the more the People will be furthered in their Duty Preachers being not only nominally called Stars and Shepherds or Bishops and Fathers but also they ought virtully to be Lights in their Candlesticks Shepherds feeding of their Flocks and Fathers laying up and laying out for their Children as the Lord teacheth saying Ye are the Salt of the Earth but if the Salt have lost his savour wherewith shall it be salted Ye are the Lights of the World a City set upon a Hill which cannot be hid Neither do men light a Candle and put it under a Bushel but on a Candlestick and it giveth light unto all that are in the House Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good Works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5.13 14 15 16. But if notwithstanding what hath been said by me my Mothers Children and Elder Brethren will yet be angry with me I will resolve not to pass for Man's Day or to be angry with them or to return evil for evil or railing for revising but pray for them with holy Stephen and cry Lord lay not this sin to their charge Acts 7.50 My end and ground both in Preaching and Printing these Sermons was an inward motion to follow the movings and workings of the Spirit upon my Soul in conformity to those I read of in 2 Pet. 1.21 where it is said Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 'T is truth as hath been already owned When these Sermons were Preached I thought not of Printing but since being called upon so to do I judged it my duty as one of Christ's living Creatures to walk streight forward whither the Spirit was to go and not to turn when going Ezek. 1.12 As for my great unfitness yea exceeding great unfitness for such a work I profess I am not unsensible of it neither shall be ashamed to own it to any that shall object it yet notwithstanding since God despiseth not the day of small things and will accept of what a man hath and not of what a man hath not wherefore I am resolved to be found faithful as becomes him that is a Steward not forgetting what the Lord said to Ezekiel Son of Man I have made thee a Watchman unto the House of Israel therefore hear the Word at my Mouth and give them warning from me Chap. 3.17 The Style is low and the Method plain and the Argument somewhat bold and impartial wonder not at it it being most like him that did it even one who was resolved to be one of Paul's Scholars in this Work to wit Not to come â—o you with excellency of Speech or of Wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God for I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.1 2. Surely plainness will hurt or hinder none though elegancy and obscurity might although it could have profited none who-ever it might have pleased If any think due respect hath not sufficiently been shown to Superiors let me say to such my aim and utmost endeavour hath been not to offend or over-look such but to give unto Cesar thâ— things which are Cesar's though
to God the things that are God's And this I have done so far as I might without sin or flattery Wherefore vouchsafe to peruse soberly and throughly these lines and know here is Milk for Babes and stronger Meat for stronger Ones And let me tell you God is now speaking to you and saying to you as of old How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in scorning and fools hate knowledge Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you and make known my words unto you Prov. 1.22 23. 'T is now your day of Grace Jesus Christ is wooing all his People to come out of Babylon but if ye will not hear and fear and repent your selves ye must be sure to partake of her judgment as well as of her sins Rev. 18.4 O! do not think Superstition or Idolatry or Will-worship or mens invention in God's Worship a small sin but remember that dreadful word Do we provoke the Lord are we stronger than he O no be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap 1 Cor. 10.22 Gal. 6.10 Wherefore do nothing partially in the matter of Religion be not circumspect about Doctrine and careless about Discipline or Church wayes be not strict for second-Table-Duties and make no Conscience of first-Table-sins Neither make it all your holiness to mind Family-Duties but also look well to your publick-Worship or your walking with Jesus Christ in his Publick Worship Such things as these Christian Reader are in this little Treatise presented to thy view and consideration be pleased to take nothing in the evil or worse part but as thou hast all from love so let thy love accept of all that carries Christ's Image and Superscription upon it and with thy Mantle of Love cover all thou meetest with of humane frailty And if by all or any thing herein presented to thee thou reapest any real benefit or profit I request you to give God all the glory and say Of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever which is and shall be the earnest prayer of him who is and will remain thine to serve thee S. MORE The Contents Ecclesiastes 12.9 Moreover Because the Preacher was wise he still taught the people knowledge Yea he gave good heed and sought out and set in order many Proverbs c. THe words in general contain an account of an Accomplished Preacher 1. As to his Qualification 2. As to his Work Act and Dispensation 3. The blessing and advantage of enjoying such Preachers But more particularly take notice of these things following 1. A Preface in this word Moreover 2. A Reason of what was done Because the Preacher was wise 3. The Person spoken of The Preacher 4. That which is related or declared concerning him and that in these particulars 1. The Act his constancy in Teaching c. 2. Perseverance in this Work He still taught the People Knowledge 3. His wariness or circumspection in managing this great Work Yea he gave good heed 4. His diligence industry or laboriousness He sought he did not catch up or deliver any thing but what he had sought out and found meet to be delivered 5. We have his fidelity or perfection in Preaching he did set in order many Proverbs He set in not out of God's or due order his Preachings or Proverbs amplified in these Words The Preacher sought out acceptable words But again In the next place we have the Property or Excellency of that which was Preached or Written it was upright even words of Truth 6. Lastly We have the Vse and Benefit of the properties of such Preachings or Preachers in these words The words of the wise are as Goads and Nails The Wise Gospel-Preacher's Praise and Practice ECCLES 12.9 10 11. 9. Moreover because the Preacher was Wise he still taught the People Knowledge yea he gave good heed and sought out and set in order many Proverbs 10. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable Words and that which was written was upright even words of Truth 11. The words of the Wise are as Goads and as Nails fastned by the Masters of Assemblies which are given by one Shepherd SOlomon the Wise is declared to be the Composer of this Book and it may probably be the last he wrote the which I shall not positively determine nor whether these three Verses be his because they seem more probable to have been wrote by his Historian or that hand which committed this Book to the Churches Treasury rather than by himself and are part of the conclusion of this Book As to the Book it self I shall say nothing the words I have pitched upon having no dependance upon any thing that went before unless to commend it and incourage to improve it because both of the excellency of the Preacher and of that which was Writ or Preach'd The words in general contain an account of an Accomplished Preacher First As to his Qualification Secondly As to his Work Act or Dispensation Thirdly The Blessing and Advantage of injoying such Preachers But more particularly take notice of these things in these Verses 1. A Preface in this word Moreover 2. A Reason of what was done Because the Preacher was Wise 3. The Person spoken of The Preacher 4. That which is related or declared concerning him and that in these Particulars First The Act his constancy in teaching c. Secondly Perseverance in his Work He still taught the People Knowledge His wariness or circumspection in managing this great Work Yea he gave good heed Thirdly His Diligence Industry or Laboriousness He sought out He did not catch up or deliver any thing but what he had sought out and found meet to be delivered Fourthly We have his Fidelity or Perfection in Preaching He did set in order many Proverbs He set in not out of God's or due order his Preachings or Proverbs amplified in these words The Preacher sought out acceptable words But again in the next place we have the Property or Excellency of that which was preached or written it was upright Even words of Truth Lastly We have the Use and Benefit or Properties of such Preaching and Preachers in these words The words of the Wise are as Goads and Nails fastned by the Masters of Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd I shall not trouble you with the opening or clearing of any obscurity in the Text at this time but refer that till afterwards where more conveniently I may dispatch it but shall proceed to some Doctrines or Conclusions hence observable The first is taken from the first word or Preface Moreover We may take these words not only litterally as spoken of the Typical Solomon but as Prophetical and pointing at a greater than Solomon our Lord Jesus That so spake as never man spake John 7.46 And also we might eye these words as dogmatical or instructing what every Wise Gospel-Preacher
marvel and others be mad with me 〈◊〉 once the Silver-Smiths were with Paul when 〈◊〉 cryed down their Diana by whom they had a their Wealth as have the School-masters Tutor Academists Collegiats Parsons Doctors Prâ—â—lates Popes with all the residue of that crue 〈◊〉 Antichristian Clergy-men But I am learning not to fear the faces of men or respect these Peâ—sons but make known the Truth as it is in Jesus remembring what Zechariah saith will be their portion even every one to be ashamed of his Vision Chap. 13. of that Book But affirmatively Answer The reason why I affirm that this Wisâ—dom before specified is not the Gospel-Wisdom iâ— First Because God hath not set this Ax or Hammer apart to do his or this work with Secondly It is but a carnal natural Weapon and is onely fit for carnal natural weak and wordly Work And for such purposes thiâ— Learning Wisdom or Furniture is fit or very useful but no more fit for preaching or a Preacher in order to preaching than a Sword is to cut one Bread with or a Plough to ride on though for other uses both are profitable But the Wisdom absolutely necessary to preaching or for a Preacher is Divine Wisdom which descends from Above more immediately and comes from the Father of Lights James 1.5 17. and in Scripture is put in opposition to the Wisdom before mentioned 1 Cor. 1. from 17 downwards I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent Where is the Wise where is the Scribe where is the Disputer of this World Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this World c. So chap. 2.1 4 7 13. Brethren when I came to you I came not with excellency of Speech or of Wisdom declaring unto you the Testimony of God and my Speech and my preaching was not with inticing words of man's wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power Not the Wisdom of this World nor the Princes of this World that come to naught but we speak the Wisdom of God which God ordained before the World unto our glory Which things also we speak not the words which man's wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual The natural man receiveth not these things neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned And Peter tells us that the Learned in the former sense but unlearned or illiterate in the latter sense are the Novices which do but wrest and pervert the Scripture or the substance of all Scripture 2 Pet. last vers 16. But more particularly what this preaching Qualification or Wisdom is I shall hereafter the Lord assisting discover From the Person spoken of and that which of him is spoken let me note these Observations Doct. 1. That Preaching by godly men thereunto qualified is God's Ordinance Secondly From the kind of Preacher that Solâ—mon here spoke of note this Observation Doct. 2. That Prophetical Preaching or Prâ—phesying by Members or Brethren of true Churchâ— by virtue of Gifts and Membership without Miâ—stry is God's very Ordinance Else Solomon hoâ— wise soever had sinfully preached Thirdly Note Doct. 3. That such or many Brethren as have Gifts and Abilities thus Preach not onely may but are bound to Preaâ— Else Solomon had done more than his Duty oâ— what he was not bound to which is vanity in 〈◊〉 to imagine for he had not been wise in so doing Fourthly Note Doct. 4. That every Gospeâ— Preacher ought to be wise or that Grace and Spiritual Wisdom are the only Requisites and â—â—ffiâ—ent for Gospel-preaching or Preachers To begin with the first of these though thâ— last of these is principally designed Note The Preaching by Godly Men thereunto qualified is God Ordinance For the proof of this take theâ— Testimonies Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lorâ— God is upon me because he hath anointed me tâ— Preach glad-tydings to the Meek He hath sent 〈◊〉 to bind up the broken-hearted to proclaim liberty 〈◊〉 the Captives and the opening of the Prison to theâ— that are bound c. Jonah 3.2 Arise go unâ—â— Nineveh that great City and preach unto it thâ— Preaching that I bid thee Mark 1.4 Johâ— preached the Baptism of Repentance for the remissioâ— of sins with chap. 3.14 He ordained twelve that they should be with him and that he might send them forth to preach Acts 5.42 And daily in the Temple and in every House they ceaseâ— not to Teach and Preach Jesus Christ and chap. 10.42 And he commanded us to preach unto the People with Rom. 10.15 How can they Preach except they be sent Many other Scriptures would give testimony to this were not this that is offered sufficient But a little further to clear this by Argument or Reason since this as every Truth hath its Opposition or Opposers Reas 1. Had not this been God's Ordinance that the Word by Men should be Preached or Revealed unto men the best of men would never have been found so often even in all Ages transgressing against the God of men through preaching unto men but the best of men have preached unto men The Scripture shews us this in Noah's time in that he was called a Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2.5 The like is said of Abraham Gen. 18.19 where Abraham's Teaching or Preaching in and to his Houshould is made the reason of God's Preaching or Declaring to him the destruction of Sodom The like we have in chap. 49.1 2. So Moses Deut. 31.1 2. with v. 19. compared also you have it chap. 32.1 So did David Psal 40.9 10. So Solomon you have it in the Text. So Samuel in his first Book chap. 12.23 So in 2 Chron. 17.7 and 9 compared And thus did the New-Testament Converts and Disciples practise Acts 8.4 Therefore I conclude that Preaching is and ever was acknowledged God's Ordinance Reas 2. Had not Preaching been God's Ordinance though godly men might have mistook their Duty yet the Lord Jesus Christ would doubtless not have preached But the Lord Jesus Christ was a Preacher and did frequently preach therefore Preaching is God's Ordinance That the Lord Jesus Preached is most evident Mark 1.14 with Luk. 8.1 After John was put in Prison Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God He went Preaching and shewing the glad-tydings of the Kingdom of God and thâ— Twelve were with him Reas 3. That which not onely Holy Men have approvedly done and the Lord Jesus himself likewise did but that which even Angels did teach and commanded the Saints to do that must needâ— be owned to be an Ordinance as appears Luk. 1.26 to 37. Luk. 2.10 11. Rev. 14.6 I saâ— another Angel flie in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to Preach unto them that dwelâ— on the Earth c. Reas 4. That which God hath in all Ages most abundantly fitted some men for must needâ— be his Ordinance But God hath in all Ages fitted
Prophets then certainly this must not be 〈◊〉 Preaching excellency and qualification of which they have no share nor can pass any competent judgment but they must try them as you have it 1 Thess 5.21 Prove all things hold fast that which is good compared with 1 Joh. 4.1 Beloved believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the World Therefore this Learning cannot be the Preaching qualification Arg. 9. And lastly What need of these Arts Logick Grammar or Rhetorick for opening of Moses and the Prophets or proving that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh Oh! bring better proof for Universities and Colledges or else never plead for these impure puddles and streams of impure waters for Preaching the Gospel But since this Truth and Argument lies so cross to some mens Interest and other mens Understanding I shall willingly consider of such Objections as I have met with and indeavour to try their strength and try whether their strength or the power of this Doctrine will prevail and be pleased to excuse me if I enlarge upon this Head since this Doctrine is so hotly yea so seemingly Scripturally opposed Therefore I shall take the more pains to clear to your Understandings and Consciences that the Learning and Wisdom which a Gospel-preacher needs for Gospel-preaching is not acquired humane Learning or Wisdom but is Spiritual and Divine for a man without Spiritual Wisdom though a Scholar and furnished with all Arts and Sciences is but like a Crow made outwardly gay with other Birds Feathers yet underneath he is a Crow still for all his outward bravery Therefore be pleased to consider of a few Scriptures and weigh the scope and tendency of them as that first when the Lord promiseth to do greaâ— things for the conversion of sinners and lifting 〈◊〉 of the Kingdom where he tells us who shall bâ— the Ambassadors and Preachers in that Work Not the Wise with this beggarly wisdom of thâ— flesh but a quite contrary Generation to wit the foolish and the simple even Babes and Suckling Isa 29.9 to 21. where we have these things offered first That in the dayes of the Gospel-eâ—altation when Lebanon the true Church shall be come a real fruitful Field and the false Church 〈◊〉 Lebanon of foolish Virgins or Professors shall 〈◊〉 turned into a Forrest then shall this be fulfilled God's Book shall not be read to the People by theâ— learned Ones for they shall say and confess 〈◊〉 well as the unlearned I cannot read no more thâ—â— the unconverted People or Multitude and thâ— shall not be the care of idle Ones or by accident but by the great design of God to glorifie himself another way as he saith I will do a marvellouâ— work and a wonder for I will turn the wisdom 〈◊〉 your prudent men backwards and the meek in the Earth shall increase their joy or divine knowledge and have my Vision opened to them and by them vers 18 19. therefore humane Wisdom anâ— Knowledge is not a Tool fit for this Work Object 1. But it is Objected This was spoken of the Jews and Priests of that time and concerâ— not us To which I Answer Grant that it were spoken of that Age first yet not of them only for it appears to the Spiritual Wise and truly Learned to be spoken of the way of God's dealing under the Man of Sin in the end of his dayes as appears vers 20 21. when the Lord saith The terrible one is brought to nought and the scorner is consumed and all that watch for iniquity are cut off c. That make a man an offender for a word and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate and turn aside the just for a thing of nought How truly these things are accomplished by the Man of Sin is most evident therefore you may see how clearly the former words concern his learned Clergy will e're long be manifest and it is most clear these Words or Prophesies are to be accomplished in that day when the Church shall be most fruitful but that is not in the day of the Jews apostacy or defection but this Glory is a reserved Glory for that day when the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and he shall reign for ever-more even that good Day which is coming upon us But again let any one shew me that the way of the Lord here spoken of is changed and that now our Lord Jesus Christ hath sanctified Wisdom and Learning for Preaching-work and is become reconciled to it then they will say something to the Point that they contend for But the Scriptures of the New Testament know no such reconciliation as appears Matth. 11.25 I thank thee O Father thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to Babes Luk. 10.21 compared with 1 Cor. 1.20 21. Where is the Wise where is the Scribe where is the Disputer of this World Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this World For after that in the wisdom of God the World by wisdom knew not Goâ— it pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching 〈◊〉 save them that believe and vers 19. it is written I will destroy the wisdom of the Wise and will briâ—â— to nothing the understanding of the prudent wiâ—â— chap. 2.1 And I Brethren when I came to you came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the Testimony of God Wheâ— we have Paul answerably practising and vindication his so doing wherefore if by any other grounâ— more helpful to them than what they have offered they be able to prove that the Lord Christ haâ—â— taken their blunt Tools into favour I desire the to declare it But again consider that passage of Zachariâ— 13. concerning this learned Generation of thâ— Man of Sin 's Clergy-men it is said In that 〈◊〉 they shall voluntarily be ashamed every one of 〈◊〉 Vision I hope not of Christ's or the Gospeâ— Vision but of the learned Vision Education and Trade of Preaching which is most clear both with reference to the rise of this way of Preaching and also the matter of this Preaching and lastly the end of it All that is there said relate to the Preaching or Prophesying of our Times and not of the Jews Time they having no such Trade in fashion as an Artificial-Clergy they having only the Tribe of Levi Prophets and Nazarites Neither would Tongues Languages Arts or Sciences help to Preach in that day when onely or primarily Prophesie and Ceremony were to be Preached Therefore this Prophesie relates principally to our Time as a Prophesie of the Prophets or Clergy-men of the Man of Sin and I shall pray Come Lord Jesus and make haste to shame these Prophets But again I pray consider when Paul directs to the choice of Ministers I mean Preaching-Ministers he doth not once name or remember this great Diana I mean
humane Learning but layes down Rules for choice without this expedient 1 Tim. 3. Object 2. But possibly some may say Is it not there said Let not him that is chosen be a Novice and is not that as much as to say unlearned or unskilful in learning To which I Answre 〈◊〉 but our learned Tribe Novices God forbid they should think so or the Lord's Peoples Portion be no better for then none besides the Learned should have been capable of choice but Paul acknowledgeth that the Corinths were wise not only their Ministers but they 1 Cor. 1.4 5. with Epist 2.11.19 But to Answer this more fully Paul intends onely a young unskilful unexperienced Christian and not a young Grammarian or Logician for he may be as proud as any that hath most skill in Arts as many Instances shew and this is the reason laid down by the Apostle why he must not be a Novice lest he be pussed up with pride and surely if the learning here meant be Oxford Cambridge I mean of the Schools Paul it seems knew men were very quick to know what learning he meant since Scripture and himself knew another Learning better which the Scriptures shew as I have offered or else he foresaw men would as at this day idolize and dote upon these painted Feathers wherefore he saith if any thing but very little for this University-breeding cryed up as so absolutely necessary for Preaching although the Scriptures know nothing of it Object 3. But some may say Are not the Schools of the Prophets mentioned in Scripture as in the place 2 Kings 22.14 Is it not said that Huldah the Prophetess dwelt in a Colledge and had not the Prophets peculiar places of residence and habitation wherein as in Vniversities or Nurseries of Learning they studied and improved themselves in order to Preaching or Prophesying as we real 2 Kings 2.3 5. 〈…〉 Acts 19.9 If there were any more of these 〈◊〉 I should have considered them also but so many have onely come to my knowledge To all those Scriptures I Answer they do not in the least oppose the Truth I have asserted that not Humane but Spiritual Wisdom fits for Preaching the Gospel of Christ For grant that these places intended Colledges and Universities and such like places yet it follows not that these were places imployed or improved for Trayning or preparing Persons for Gospel-preaching for it doth not appear that any Gospel-preachers issued forth from thence And secondly The Prophets and Prophetesses we read of were extraordinary Prophets and not such Preachers or Prophets as the Doctrine intends and speaks of but if Schools and Universities will fit us to be such Prophets as can declare things to come from the Lord then let us all that fear the Lord go to these Schools that we may learn thus to Prophesie But this is not a mediate but an immediate Gift either by Dreams Visions or Oracles And thirdly For Tyrannus his School mentioned in the forecited Acts 19. nothing is there declared concerning what he taught nor whom he taught but most probable it was not Gospel-knowledge and infallible it is it was not how men might be qualified for Preaching for this was not permitted or allowed any open Schools in that place at that day as appears by the contradiction Paul there met withal and how needless had it been to a learned Hebrew or Greek since that was their Mother-Tongue many of them being Jews and Greeks as vers 10. declares but Tyrannus was allowed to teach in his School wherefore it is probable he taught nothing of this sort of Knowledge Object 4. Some do Object and say How can a Preacher know that the Scripture is rightly translated that knows not the Original I Answer By the same way and means that the unlearned People of the Lord come to know it and it concerns them and is necessary for them to know though I say not of the same necessity For if they be not assured that the Scriptures as translated are rightly translated what shall they build their Faith on except on their learned Leaders and Translators honesty and ability and this is to pin their Faith in a business of most weight and concernment on the Priests sleeve and this is but to believe as the Church believes and so the blind leading the blind they may both fall into the Ditch Secondly I Answer It is not by knowing Arts and Sciences or Languages Preachers or People can come to be assured that the Scriptures are the Word of God and rightly translated but by the humble sanctified and diligent searching into and studying of the Scriptures 't is by comparing things spiritually together as the Apostle tells us saying Which things also we speak not in the words which Man's wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual 1 Cor. 2.13 I say by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus must we nay may we know the Power and Spirit Truth and Purity of the Scriptures and it is the Godly judicious Spiritual Christian best knows how aptly or corruptly they are translated And thirdly I Answer Grant this were so which I do not grant yet this Learning and Excellency is more requisite and essential to a Translator Examiner or Corrector of translated Copies than to a Gospel-preacher But lastly Since so many thousand Learned as well as Godly have sealed the Truth of the Scriptures Purity and Divine Authority notwithstanding all its humane Imperfections in Translation therefore we need not now or continually University-Learning to do that Work which is already sufficiently done to our hands Object 5. Some do Object and say How can the Scripture be interpreted in dark passages without this help I Answer As a Lanthorn without a Candle will no way help to shew a man his way though a Candle without a Lanthorn may no more can this dark Lanthorn of humane Learning and Languages without the Candle of the Lord as too abundant experience hath witnessed but that Candle singly can and doth Miserable Experience sheweth what Interpreters the School-men and Fathers have been and yet are even the Fathers of well-nigh all the Individual Errors in Judgment and Practice in the European World The Devil and the Learned may be admired for them if for any thing but take some Scriptures for proof of so weighty a Point when our Lord comes to shew how Ministers and Interpreters of Scripture shall be furnished for this Work he saith When the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he shall shew you things to come John 16.13 The like Testimony gives Paul But we speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the World unto our Glory which none of the Princes of this World knew for had they known it they would not have Crucified the Lord of
Glory 1 Cor. 2.7 8. But some may say How came the Preachers of the Gospel in that day to this Wisdom Not from Universities or humane Learning but from the Grace and Spirit of God as you have it But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things mark it yea the deep things of God vers 10. And this Paul proves vers 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God this is further witnessed unto vers 12 13 14 15 16. Object 6. May some say How shall a Preacher be able to withstand or confute gain-sayers without learning For every one that is a Scholar and subtil will sophisticate and use fallacies and wrest the Scriptures and his Arguments from him if he be not a Scholar Now Beloved I pray you do but consider what is said in this Objection and you have here discovered the learned Man's Excellency it is to sophisticate and deal fallaciously with the Simple and the Truth Beloved take heed of them as such who have learned the skill to deceive the simple But yet a little further to Answer this seemingly so weighty an Objection Know God's way or the right way for a Preacher to answer Gain-sayers is to have the Word of God dwell richly in him in all wisdom that out of that Library or good Treasure he may be able to convince them of the contrary part Thus Paul taught injoyning Preachers to hold fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and convince the Gain-sayers Tit. 1.9 10. the like you have in 2 Tim. 3.13 14 15 16 17. Object 7. Some may say This is to subject Preachers and Preaching to contempt and scorn For if Preachers need not be learned who will not be a Preacher Who more bold than the ignorant or men of ignorance And who will reverence Preaching or Preachers if it be so easie and common a work for any man that is unlearned Will it not be very simple and mean Preaching if Preachers want Breeding Arts Languages and Sciences to garnish and dress out their Preaching with Lively and Apt Similes Rhetorical and Elegant Words To all which I thus Answer in the fear of the Lord. First It is never the more easie but much more the harder for any to Preach whilst we affirm no humane Acquirements but supernatural Attainments that fits or qualifies Persons for Preaching Secondly If all or any seek or undertake to Preach it follows not that all shall or can Preach No there are many Learned yea and unlearned Intruders upon Preaching which do not nor can Preach for all they rush or run upon the work for it is written A man can receive nothing that is no such Gift except it be given him from Above John 3.27 And saith Paul How can one Preach except he be sent And thirdly Though this unnecessary Tool be laid aside yet are there many other helps which every Preacher must have both Natural and Divine which every man hath not no not every Godly Man nor can attain to therefore to be an Accomplished-Preacher is not so easie though it matters not how easie But fourthly If it be said Who then will reverence Preaching or Preachers I Answer Though an undue reverence is not to be sought or desired and every able Preacher is truly and most eminently worthy of reverence yet when the Love of God and the Work of God lies warm upon the Preachers heart then the main business of a Gospel-Preacher will be to get Christ not himself reverenced For we Preach not our selves but the Lord Jesus and our selves your Servants for Christ's sake 2 Cor. 4.5 And let me tell you as David said to Michael 2 Sam. 6. Even of the Hand-maids shall such be had into honour whilst the proud Locusts of the bottomless Pit despise them I say Every such Soul that is Preached to will reverence that lip which hath spoken Christ to his heart as hereafter may more appear but if the blind cannot yet the seeing eye will reverence such Preaching and that the more because it is plain and simple But lastly Whereas they tell us that Preaching will be very mean and simple if the Preachers be unlearned and want Arts Sciences Rhetorick and Logick to help them to apt Expressions Similies to set forth Heavenly things by I Answer No if men be wise that Preach it will not be simple Preaching If Preachers be dayes-men or men of experience in Christ's Gospel and Satan's Wiles for if the Spirit of God can help the unlearned to words sufficient to speak to God in Prayer surely he is much more able to help the unlearned Preacher to sufficiency of words to speak to the Satisfaction and Advantage of unlearned simple sinful earthly ignorant Men and Women yea Babes and Sucklings therefore no need to serve an Apprentiship for Words at the Schools Thus I have Answered this Objection Object 8. Some may say If Preachers be not Scholars and Artists there are many things in the Scripture which they cannot resolve or explain at the weights of the Sanctuary of old and Places and Countries as where they lie and in what Continent Scituation Latitude and Distance one from another c. To which I Answer This is but superfluous or unnecessary Knowledge which every Gospel-Preacher may honourably be without And if a Preacher cannot attain it without humane Learning he may Preach as truly and as profitably Christ's Mysterie and Man's Duty from such Scriptures as if he could resolve such Riddles or unnecessary Questions For could not Ezckiel Amos and the Prophets prophesie against Egypt Tyrus Moab Babylon and the rest of the Heathen-Countries as well as if they knew their Longitude or Latitude Yes doubtless as clearly as other-ways for that did not concern them but only to denounce the Judgments of God against them other knowledge of Places is onely or mostly necessary for such as are Travellers or Historiographers who else may miss their way or mar their Work but 't is not so with a Preacher 't is enough for such to Preach that Babylon shall fall because she hath sinned and that Nineveh repented and therefore was spared wheresoever the one or the other Country is and that whatsoever Countrey or People soever they be that sin against the most High and do not repent shall also perish first or last yea even England though we know where it lies without repentance must doubtless perish Object 9. May not some say to me Doth not Solomon the Wise even the Preacher in my Text say Prov. 1.22 It is fools only that hate or slight Knowledge so it is only unlearned ignorant mechanicks that speak thus slightly and contemptibly of Learning and Knowledge Is not every thing beautiful in its season I Answer It is not to
if we follow on to know the Lord and in John 7.17 If any man will do his Will he shall know that the Doctrine is of God Thirdly Be diligent about this business of Knowledge if ever thou wouldest know as James saith Let not a wavering-minded man think he shall receive any thing even so say I Let not the slothful or the idle Christian think he shall receive or ever attain Knowledge with such a frame of Spirit With what sloth and idleness neglectfulness and forgetfulness do too many Professors pursue Knowledge Therefore be not slothful in business of this nature but be fervent in spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12.11 Fourthly Hold much and close communion with knowing wise and holy Persons This made Apollos become more wise and knowing even his communion with Aquila Acts 18. And this Solomon teacheth us Prov. 13.20 telling us That he that walketh with wise men shall be wise but a companion of fools shall be destroyed But lastly If you would become a knowing people in the Knowledge of God be a praying people Prayer must relieve both Preacher and the preached to in this thing Oh therefore be much in Prayer This was David's practice Psal 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law And to close remember what James saith chap. 1.4 If any of you lack wisdom let him ask it of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth none and it shall be given Thus much for this Point Now to proceed in the Text it is added Yea he gave good heed This is the next piece of the description of a wise Preacher he gave good heed From hence observe Doct. 7. That he Preached not rashly but heedfully 'T is folly to be slight or rash in any business but especially in God's Matters or in the Matters of Preaching Yea he gave good heed it is good to Preach heedfully As Preaching is honourable Work so it is to be honourably performed as it is weighty and difficult Work even so ought Preachers warily and heedfully to perform and pursue it This we find imposed upon Elders or Preachers Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves so in 1 Tim. 4.16 Take heed unto thy self and to thy Doctrine Preaching-Work ought to be heedfully yea most heedfully performed Question But it may be demanded What is that which a Preacher ought thus heedfully to mind In general I Answer It is his Preaching This is clear in the Text by that which is added and sought out and set in order many Proverbs It was the setting in order of Parables the Preacher gave good heed unto But more particularly to Answer this Query First He ought to give good heed to the observing what the present state and need of the people calls for for he is by Preaching to feed the people with food seasonable and convenient for them I do not say That he is to eye or answer the wanton expectations of the Hearer but the present necessity and need of the Hearer This is laid down Mat. 24.45 Who then is a wise and faithful Servant to give them meat in due season A wise Preacher must oversee the state of the Flock in this regard to know what they are and what they want at the present that he may by Doctrine give every one not some but every one his meat in due season Sinners and unconverted Souls in a Congregation must be heedfully provided for and the Saints and Children of God in the Assembly must much less be neglected the minds of the ignorant must be enlightned and the mouth of the Adversary must be stopped The Faith of the doubting must be strengthened and the Faith of the established secured The troubled Conscience must be comforted and the Conscience of the sleepy and secure awakned This is now to give good heed how we Preach thus wisely to mind and consider them we Preach to Secondly For a Preacher to give good heed how he Preachers is needfully to observe or consider the present Vision of the Lord or what the Spirit of the Lord at present layes warm and fresh in upon his heart to deliver as his present Message and seasonable to the people That Message which is very lawful and seasonable to deliver to the people at one time is neither seasonable nor lawful to deliver at another time There is a time and but a time that is seasonable for any thing so there is a time and but a time when some Truths are seasonable Therefore this is that Preachers should heedfully mind the teaching moving and turning of their Spirits this or that way by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus and give up themselves to the manuduction of that Spirit Thus did the living Creatures Ezek. 1.12 And they went every one straight forward whither the Spirit was to go they went and they turned not when they went This is Preacher's motion and thus to move is heedfully to Preach Thus did Isaiah that good Watchman Chap. 21.7 8. He hearkened diligently with much heed and he cryed a Lyon My Lord I stand continually upon the Watch-tower in the day time and I am set in my Ward whole nights But again Thirdly Heedfully to Preach is heedfully to observe our scope and end in Preaching As in some respects the end may be said to crown all even so may I say of Preaching If ends be not right and honourable it will spoil all as the dead Fly doth the Apothecaries precious Oyntment A Preacher cannot think to do much good by Preaching that hath low or poor aims or ends in Preaching The goodness of the Work doth not argue the goodness of a Man's Aims or Ends in Preaching But if ever Preachers would do good at Preaching let them heedfully mind their Ends. When Ends are right God usually blesseth but when Ends are naught and low God usually blasts as you have it Haggi 1.6 to 11. compared with Zech. 7.5 6. where the Lord renders the reason of all the blasts or disappointments they met with was Because of the corruptness of their ends Had not sinful self lay at the bottom of the sacrificing and fasting and calling upon his Name they should have had a Blessing but this with-held it from them Self-endedness at Preaching is heedless and fruitless Preaching God will not bless with any great success such Preaching therefore Preach heedfully or well-minding that your ends be holy and pure even the glorifying God and the profiting the Souls of the people In discharge of Duty these are right Ends and not to Preach for Applause Credit or much less Merchandize But again Fourthly Preachers should heedfully yea give good heed as in the Text to the Matter of their Preaching and not rashly say the Lord saith They must Search the Scripture as well as Preach the Scripture remembring David Psalm 39. I said I will take heed to my wayes that I sin not with my tongue and what Solomon saith Suffer not thy
own Land and the Caldeans shall come again and fight against this City and take it and burn it with fire Jer. 37.7 8. But though these words were acceptable or truth in themselves and so to the Lord and should have been so to them as being profitable to them Yet for all this they were unacceptable to them as is manifest vers 15. Wherefore the Princes were wroth with Jeremiah and smote him and put him in Prison This may suffice for the Answer of this great Question What acceptable words are Let me now raise this Observation or Conclusion The tenth Doctrine That the wisdom and work of wise Preachers is and ought to be to preach acceptable words or acceptably I shall the briefer pass through this Doctrine because I have had occasion already to speak to the main things in it contained Wherefore for the proof of what hath been asserted to wit That every wise Preacher's wisdom and work is to preach acceptable words or acceptably Consider This is Paul's charge not to Timothy only but in him to all Preachers to preach acceptable words as you have it in the following words of the Text words of Truth Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard from me 2 Tim. 1.13 So to Titus speaking what Preachers or Elders of Churches should be he saith They should be men able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and convince gain-sayers Tit. 1.9 so Chap. 2.1 Speak thou the thing which becometh sound Doctrine and once more you have it given in charge among other Directions Sound speech that cannot be condemned that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed having no evil thing to say of you vers 8. And this Paul begs the Prayers of Saints to God for him in this behalf That he might not onely Speak or Preach but so Speak or Preach as he ought to do Ephes 6.20 with Col. 4.4 But may not some say How doth it appear all this while that preaching sound words is preaching acceptable words However I shall grant That to unsound hearts unsound words are and may be most acceptable as we read where the People spake to the Prophet saying Prophesie not unto us right things speak unto us smooth things prophesie deceits Isa 30.10 Yet sound Hearts or gracious Hearers they count no words acceptably spoken or worthy their acceptation but sound and wholsome words as we read of the Church of Ephesus that they hated the Deeds or the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans which the Lord also hated Rev. 2.6 In the opening of this term acceptable words I told you it implyed words of truth which and which only ought of honest and wise Hearers to be accepted Therefore to preach sound words or words of Truth is to preach acceptable words being such words which only should be preached and are alwayes worthy of all mens acceptation And doubtless this among other things Paul also intended in that phrase to speak as he ought that is only and alwayes Truth or the lively Oracles of God not but that Preachers have other things to mind that their words may be acceptable words So secondly Seasonable words are or ought to be accounted acceptable words Therefore Solomon speaking of seasonable words saith A word spoken in due season how good is it or how acceptable is it Prov. 15.23 Now a word may be fitly said to be seasonable or seasonably spoken either in reference to God's account or the peoples concernments First In reference to God's when God's Cause and Honour calls for our speaking then to speak such words as may most conduce to the Cause and Case in hand is to speak acceptable or seasonable words such as wise Preachers ought to seek out speak out Such were Mordecai's words to Hester when he declared to her the state of the Jews and charged her That she should go in unto the King to make supplication to him and to make request before him for her People Chap. 4.8 And when she seems to be backward to entertain these words vers 10 11. Mordecai doubles former seasonable words as becomes wise Preachers so to do and tells her Think not that thou shalt escape in the Kings House more than all the Jews For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time then shall their enlargement arise from another place but thou and thy Fathers House shall be destroyed vers 13 14. The like seasonable were the words of Elijah both to the King and to the People when he told the King I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy Fathers House in that ye have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord and ye have followed Baalim and to the People when he said How long halt ye between two Opinions If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal then follow him 1 Kings 18.18 21. And such were Paul's words to the Athenians when he saw them so given to Idolatry Acts 17.16 to the close of that Chapter And by the way note That oft-times God in a wonderful manner stirs-up the Spirits of his Servants to be speaking such acceptable words as are timous and most seasonable in order to present work as in the instances cited with many more may easily appear But secondly Words may then be counted seasonable and acceptable when most sutable to or suiting with the Peoples present Case State and Necessities The work of wise Preachers should be to sute their words to such occasions when a People are secure setled in sin and sinful wayes then awakening quickning reproving words are most seasonable and to God most acceptable when spoken and should be so to the People Such were John's words to the sinful Jews when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadduces come to his Baptism he said unto them O generation of Vipers who hath warned you to fly from the wrath to come bring forth therefore fruit meet for repentance and think not to say within your selves We have Abraham to our Father When the Peoples case is trouble and sorrow for sin then comforting words are seasonable and acceptable words This the Lord himself teacheth saying Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished Isa 40.1 2. And in obedience hereunto when Peter saw that the People were pricked at their hearts he said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for the promise is to you and to your Children and to all that are after off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Acts 2.38 39. When the People are ignorant of Truths necessary or in some sense of necessity to be at present known Now 't is wise Preachers work to seek out seasonable and acceptable words of information for the removing the peoples ignorance Thus Peter did in that fore-cited Acts 2.14 15. And thus did those wise ones Aquila and Priscilla deal with
Apollos Acts 18.24 25 26. To name no more Instances of this kind When words may truly be seasonable and acceptable or both I say when we see the Peoples sin openly and dangerous to the insnaring and indangering of others then 't is most seasonable to step in with reproving words Thus Paul dealt with Peter Gal. 2.12 13 14. And with the same spirit we find him acting against Elimas the Sorcerer when he sought to turn away the Deputy from the Faith Acts 13.9 10 11. Thus much may suffice for the proving and opening the Point let me now give you two or three Reasons or Arguments why this must needs be a Truth Reason 1. First Because 't is then only Preachers can be said in preaching to preach or in doing the work of preaching to preach when we preach acceptably or speak seasonable words All other preaching is foolish preaching or for the present but lost preaching But again Reason 2. Secondly Such Preachers and Preaching are only acceptable to God as such only should be to wise Hearers as the Lord seems to imply in that expression of the Prophet He that hath a Dream let him tell a Dream and he that hath my Word let him speak my Word faithfully What is the Chaff to the Wheat saith the Lord Jer. 23.28 Reason 3. Lastly Preachers ought to seek out acceptable words because such preaching will only answer our engagements and pretentions both to God and Man Our engagement who preach is like our Lord Christ who said I came from Heaven not to do my own Will but the Will of him that sent me John 6.38 And no Preacher is so foolish or unwise a Preacher as to pretend less than thus to do wherefore let as many as preach be so wise and honest to do what they pretend to do and as Paul saith Not to preach themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and themselves Servants for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4.5 I proceed now to the Application because I promised to be short Use of Reproof The first Use may be for a word of Reproof to as many Preachers that are not so wise as to make this their work to seek out acceptable seasonable words even sound words or words of truth and uprightness Oh how many foolish careless and unconscionable Preachers there are that neither study the Scriptures to find out sounds words nor consult with God or with the People to know what may be an acceptable word or a word spoken in due season either in reference to what God is a doing or the People are wanting in These may more aptly be stiled foolish than wise Preachers who more study humane than divine Writ and consult the mind of men especially great men rather than the mind of God and their own gain and interest more than the Peoples profit All I shall further say to these is As their sin is great against God and the Souls of the People even so without repentance and more wisdom their judgment will be heavy and their damnation slumbers not Let such think seriously of that saying of Peter But these as natural bruit beasts made to be taken and destroyed speak evil of the things they understand not and shall utterly perish in their own corruption 2 Pet. 2.12 But to be brief Secondly For Exhortation Secondly This shall serve for a word of Exhortation and that to two sorts of Persons First To such as Preach Secondly To such as Hear First Let me exhort and provoke all you that are wise Gospel Preachers to remember this word Seek out acceptable words even words of Truth and let that which is written be upright Oh suffer me to beseech you to seek out seasonable words both upon God's and his Peoples account Oh consider what Generation-work God hath in hand in your day in the present day and give it your word as Nehemiah did in his day Chap. 2. vers 3. In times of abounding of iniquity Lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet cry aloud spare not shew the people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sin Isa 58.1 And take that encouraging word and charge you have given to the Prophet Jeremiah Thou therefore gird up thy loyns and arise and speak unto them all that I command thee and be not dismayed at their faces Jer. 1.17 Oh my Brethren be prevailed upon to make it your main business next to the looking after your own Vines to look after acceptable words for the People Oh search out the cause you know not and see what your and Christ's Sheep want and Preach words seasonable or in due season Oh Beloved be not knowers but doers of the Word not deceiving your own Souls This will bring much honour to Christ and you will then so do your work as to have joy and not grief in the great day of Jesus Christ Secondly Let me exhort you that are Hearers to suffer a word of Exhortation not onely from me but from your Preachers also which enjoy wise and painful Preachers that make it their business to seek out acceptable words for you Oh esteem such highly for their work sake and their work for Christ's sake Oh slight not such words as cost them so dear or so much to find out for your use Oh sin not against such words as are seasonable and should be to you acceptable Suffer your Preachers to deal home and plainly with you 't is their duty and their love to Christ and you make their work easie take their labour of love kindly despise not pervert not prophesyings of such as seek out acceptable words and what-ever they speak is words of Truth and of uprightness If necessity be laid upon them to seek out acceptable words do not think you are at liberty whether you will receive or refuse them Nay think of that dreadful word Lo when this cometh to pass then shall they know that a Prophet hath been among you Ezek. 33.33 The great God that made nothing in vain hath not made wise Preachers in vain or that you should turn a deaf ear or a rebellious heart towards them They must sift hunt and search out acceptable words for you and you ought to receive them with all readiness of mind and take heed that they lose not through you the things which they have wrought Oh believe it your spiritual wise Preachers do bring you acceptable words meat in due season and therefore let him that hath ears hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches And lastly If Preachers must seek out acceptable words for the People then let their acceptable words be acceptably entertained of you As Daniel said to the King so let me say to all you to whom this Truth shall come Let my Counsel be acceptable to you and break off your sins by Righteousness and your iniquities by shewing of mercy Dan. 4.27 I mean your sins against wise Preachers and their acceptable words from Jesus Christ Thus much for this Word and this
Point I proceed now from the Preacher's Work to the Preacher's Commendation And that which was written was upright even words of Truth The eleventh Doctrine Whence I might observe That as wise Preachers are wary and painful Preachers and search and seek out acceptable and seasonable words for their People so a pious and deserving People will not be wanting to give or afford them and their preaching due and deserved incouragement and commendation as might easily be made to appear But remembring what Solomon the Preacher hath writ in this case Prov. 27.2 Let another man praise thee and not thine own mouth a stranger and not thine own lips I shall forbear to proceed any further and shall now consider the words without relation to the Preacher as they hint forth the commendation of uprightness and truth not only in the Preacher's Spirit and Work but in every Man's Spirit and Conversation The twelfth Doctrine And the Observation may be this That a Spirit of Truth and uprightness is an excellent frame of Spirit in all that profess the Name of Christ I shall not need to spend time about the opening or discovering what Truth and Uprightness is because among such who enjoy wise Preachers this is much discoursed of amongst wise and gracious Persons this is well known if not better known than practised Therefore I shall briefly give you the proofs of the Point and then come to improve it That this frame of Spirit and walking is lovely and excellent take the witness of a stranger in Israel concerning David when he told him Surely as the Lord liveth thou hast been upright and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the Host is good in my sight for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me to this day 1 Sam. 29.6 Take also David's own testimony when he sings forth the excellency of his Spirit saying I was also upright before him and have kept my self from mine iniquity 2 Sam. 22.24 But setting aside Man's testimony to this Truth take the Lord 's own testimony concerning Job And the Lord said unto Satan Hast thou considered my Servant Job there is none like him in the earth a perfect and upright man Chap. 1.8 The like honourable acknowledgement doth our Lord give of Nathaniel saying Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile John 1.47 And Solomon tells us Such as are upright in their way are the Lord's delight or his delightful ones Prov. 11.20 But this may suffice for the proof of the Point though manifold Texts might have been produced for the further demonstrating this had it been necessary Let me now give you some Arguments to clear this Observation That truth and uprightness in the Spirit renders such Spirits excellent Argument 1. First Because this is the frame of God's Spirit or Beeing therefore to be like God in beeing must needs render us excellent in beeing That God is thus in his Beeing take that saying for it Good and upright is the Lord Psal 25.8 Also that of Isaiah Oh thou most upright dost weigh the path of the Just Isa 26.7 Now to have our Spirits according to the frame of God's Spirit is the most excellent frame that can be imagined But again Argument 2. Secondly This must needs be a most excellent frame because the contrary frame of Spirit is the most dishonourable and unlovely frame that can be 'T is said of Satan That he is transformed into an Angel of Light This is the emphasis or height of his iniquity he is not upright he is not as he seems to be he is really an Angel of darkness and pretends to be an Angel of Light 2 Cor. 11.14 Therefore when our Lord would set forth the vileness and unworthiness of the Spirit of the Jews he tells them They are of their Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father you will do John 8.44 And no Spirit is so disowned and detested of God as the Spirit of Hypocrisie Wo unto Hypocrites Math. 23.27 read that place at your leasure Therefore to be of the contrary Spirit to Hypocrisie must needs be excellent that is to be upright in Spirit But again Argument 3. Thirdly 'T is that frame begun in us here which will be our frame perfectly in the state of Glory Now to be in such a frame here as we shall be in glory must needs be a glorious and excellent frame When the Disciples saw Christ transfigured That his Face did shine as the Sun and his Rayment was white as the Light Mat. 17.2 Even so how glorious are such Souls as are transfigured into the Image of Christ even this image of Truth and uprightness of Spirit Such are the most excellent in their Generation But again Argument 4. Lastly This can be no other than a Truth which both Heaven and Earth bear witness to but that this is excellent even truth and uprightness in whom-soever it be found we have heard the testimony of Heaven and of the Scripture and if we enquire of all sorts of men under the Heavens they will all seal to this Truth that Men and Women of honest Spirits are most desirable and excellent Persons both to dwell with and converse with Therefore seeing this Doctrine knows no Adversaries as to the acknowledgment thereof I shall cease any further demonstration and come to Application wherein I shall speak some-thing by way of Information some-thing of Exhortation and then give some Motives Use of Information The first Use I shall make of this Point is to present you with a word of Information and that is Whence it comes to pass that the Preachers and People of the Lord are no more valued and esteemed than they are this day 'T is because they have no more of this excellent Spirit in them this Spirit of Truth and of Uprightness I do not say this is the only reason or that there is no other reason but I say it again amongst other Reasons this is one grand one They say Professors want Truth and Uprightness talk of Heaven and of Love and of Bounty and Patience yet love the World and pursue the World and keep the World as much as any love few but themselves and Men of their own Principles judging all that believe not as they believe and practise as they practise They are as miserable and impatient or forward upon every slight occasion as any other men Therefore men are apt to think that all is not true they say and that they speak not as they think but are deceitful meer words and shews Oh my dear Friends I wish that this were altogether groundless and that there were not too much truth or ground for this complaint But Sirs take notice how the want of visibility and activity in this frame of Spirit causeth our good commodity to be evil spoken of therefore let it be our wisdom and business to take away occasion from them that seek occasion and take
That of these men that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us beginning from the Baptism of John unto the same day that he was taken up from among us must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his Resurrection Vers 22. And thus they chose Ministers Acts 6. according to Apostolical Direction who said Wherefore Brethren look you out from among your selves seven men of honest report full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdom whom we may appoint to this business vers 4. Again ask those who profess themselves Christ's Ministers Who put them into their Ministry the Church or any particular sort of men distinct from the Congregation whose Ministers they are For none but the Church I mean a particular Church can make a Man a Minister of any of Christ's particular Churches or Golden Candlesticks It was the Church not the Apostles chose accepted and admitted those into the Office of Deaconship which we read of Act. 6.5 6. And they chose Steven a man full of Faith and of the Holy Ghost and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenos and Nicolas a Proselyte of Antioch whom they set before the Apostles And if the Churches of Christ should not have this power to give the Beeing and Ordination to their own Servants and Ministers without dependance on others then should the power and priviledges of Christ's Churches be less than of civil Corporations or private Families which were absurd to imagine Not to grant this to every individual and particular Church and Congregation were to maintain That Christ's Churches are in Bondage and not Free States or Politick Bodies which were derogatory both to Christ and to his Church Further either the Church or persons less than the Church must make Ministers but the Text tells us The lesser must be blessed of the greater Therefore every Church of Christ and not any distinct sort of Persons there-from must make Ministers for themselves Heb. 7.7 we read And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the greater yea and subjected to the greater even every Gospel-Minister to his Congregation who may not only when occasion requires say to Archippus Take heed to the Ministry thou hast received of the Lord to fulfil it Col. 4.17 But likewise if Archippus will not here reform and obey them as they gave him admittance into their Fellowship and into his Ministry they also may take from him both the one and the other and let him be unto them as an Heathen and a Publican Mat. 18.17 Again ask these what Ministers of Christ they are Apostles Evangelists and extraordinary Prophets they cannot be who-ever they be for they ceased with Foundation-work and Dayes and as they were raised up and filled with Gifts and Grace suiting such who were to lay the Foundation of Faith Church-Worship Ministry and Ministrations according to commission from Christ Mat. 28.19 20. So they were to be but twelve in number as Acts 1. with Rev. 21. where it is said And the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb Vers 14. The last Vision John saw and the most glorious City that upon Earth the Saints shall ever see will have but twelve Apostles names in the Foundation thereof wherefore try them that say they are Apostles and they will be found lyars Rev. 2.2 And for Evangelists to assist Apostles in writing Scripture and such like Services there being now no Apostles to assist or Scripture to write or fill up there is no need of these as no way to attain these for all these extraordinary Officers came not into the Church by the Door or Way that ordinary Ministers or Officers do but by a more immediate way from Heaven as Paul witnesseth Gal. 1.1 Paul an Apostle not by man nor of man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead And for extraordinary Prophets as we have none so all that are acquainted with the Scripture know they were immediately made Prophets by the Lord All therefore that say they are Christ's Gospel-Ministers must profess or acknowledge themselves to be either Pastors or Teachers or Elders or Deacons and Deaconnesses Now he that is a Pastor cannot at the same time be a Teacher that is an official Teacher whose Work and Office is distinct as well as his name from the Pastor and the Elder or Ruler is distinct in Name and Work from both the former and the Deacon from all the rest as the formentioned Scriptures declare Now if they have neither Name nor Gifts of Christ's Ministers then can they be none of Christ's but another sort of Ministers I do not say that a bare assuming or owning a Man's self to be a Pastor or Teacher or Elder will prove him one of Christ's Ministers but try what men are called into the Office and Ministry of Objection And if any should Object and say But are not these common names viz. Pastors Elders Teachers Bishops and the like Answer I Answer In a common acceptation and use of the term they are and may be so improved but yet these names are properly the names of Christ's distinct and peculiar Ministers and answerable to their proportionableness thereunto are they to be chosen into that very Ministry they are mostly fitted and adapted for As he whose Gift and Spirit mostly disposes him to Exhortation and Application of Principles received and believed ought to be chosen into the Pastor's Office and he whose Gifts and Qualification bends most to Expound Interpret and open the sense and meaning of the Word is meetest to be chosen into the Office of a Teacher and so he that is wise zealous grave vigilant and most disposed to see the Churches Affairs done decently and in order is most meet for the Office of â—uling-Elder or Governor in the Church of Christ And he that is most inclined to mercy kindness charity bountifulness liberality and giving is meetest of all the Church for the Office of Deaconship in the Church For as Adam called every thing by its proper name even so would the Second Adam have his Ministers called by their proper not improper names from their fitness and sutableness to their Work chosen and called either Pastors Teachers Elders or Deacons But lastly Would you know whether Persons pretending to be Christ's Ministers be so or no ask them whose Servants they are and whom they obey Christ and his Will or Man and his Will For you know who said it His Servants ye are to whom ye yeeld your selves obedient Rom. 6.16 Now try whose Will and Mind Ministers obey Christ's or Man's whose Word they walk by Christ's or Man's whose Worship they offer up Christ's or Man's For by their Fruits saith our Lord you shall know whether men are true or false Prophets Mat. 7.15 16. Christ's Ministers offer no strange Fire nor make any composition to anoint God's
Kings Priests or Prophets with but according to divine Direction and Institution remembring that word See that thou makest all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the Mount Heb. 8.8 compared with Exod. 25.40 Christ's Ministers are to administer according to Christ's appointment not Man's for they are His and not Man's Servants and therefore must teach themselves and the People to observe all things that Christ hath commanded and nothing which he hath not commanded to be observed or taught Dare they observe or teach others to observe as our Lord teacheth Mat. 28.20 and Paul practised 1 Cor. 11.23 saying That which I received of the Lord that delivered I also unto you and nothing else Christ's Ministers are not to seek what to do in the Administration of their Office but have all things plainly written in the Tables of the Scripture that he which runneth may read his Duty their Rule is Scripture their Help the Spirit their Work Christ's instituted Will and Worship and their Ability and Sufficiency the Grace and Gifts of the Spirit and their Wages only the good Will of Christ's People among whom they Iabour they need not any man to teach them but as that Anointing teacheth them all things they can Pray without a Prayer-Book and Preach without Common-Places or the help of Commentators and Administer Sacraments and Censures without a Directory or Book of Canons of Man's making being throughly made wise and sufficiently furnished unto every good and Gospel-Work by Grace and Scripture without any of Saul's Armour they need no Garments of Distinction nor shews of Piety or Purity or Gravity without Substance Neither want they any vain unwarrantable Ceremonies or Gestures of Man's devising to make their Administrations appear beautiful and prove edifying and yet all their things to be done decently and according to due or Gospel order Now if thus you please to try and prove or measure Christ's professed Ministers and their Ministrations by the Golden Reed of the Scripture you may certainly know who they are that say they are Apostles and are not but do lie and as polluted let all such be put from the Priesthood 'T is these Wise-Preachers and Gospel-Ministers that I only assert spring from the good Will of Christ and appertain to Christ the rest are but Apocrypha-Writing and as groundless and useless meet to be of all that belong to Christ the Lord rejected And this I suppose may be sufficient for Gospel-Ministers and the Ministrations Vindication against any that shall dare to traduce or slander them as Incroachers and Intruders into other mens Work and none of Christ's Ministers but a sort of Factious Schismatical and Heretical Persons disobedient and turbulent or troublesome to the Government Yet let what hath been said be but weighed and considered and it will appear that they are given forth from the one great Shepherd of the Sheepfold And O how beautiful are the feet of such who bring glad tydings of peace So much for this Use in which I have been the larger because of the weight and consequence of these things The third Vse is for Exhortation The third and I suppose the last Use I shall make of this Doctrine is for Exhortation First To such as are Christ's Ministers Secondly To all you that are Christ's Churches and Servants First Let me beseech and exhort you all Fathers and Brethren that are Gospel-Ministers under the Lord Jesus If your Office and Ministry be given and derived from the Lord Jesus O then as that great Preacher of the Gospel to the Gentiles Paul said Let us magnifie our Office Rom. 11.13 Even by so doing as he did by labouring if by any means we may provoke to emulation them that are our flesh and might save some of them O let us who are Christ's serve the great design of Christ and let not us as some do serve our own Bellies and not the Lord Jesus Rom. 16.18 O if not only our Ministry be of Christ and from Christ but a Ministry for Christ O then be exhorted to make it our great and main business to seek not our own things or glory but the things of our Lord Jesus and his great glory to whom belongs all honour and glory and blessing for ever and ever Amen If we have his glory as great in our eye then let our great business be to get or procure his glory as our Lord tells us he did before us John 8.50 I seek not my own glory yea our blessed Lord makes it a Character of a true Minister that he is thus minded telling us He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory but he that seeketh his glory that sent him the same is true and no unrighteousness in him John 7.18 Servants must not so much whilst Servants promote their own Interest and Credit as their Lord and Masters even no more should we promote our own Glory or Interest in the World but Christ's Secondly Let me Exhort you my Brethren if you are Christ's Ministers and spring from him then pray you approve your selves to him remember how you have received and be faithful in your ministration to him Let us not forger that saying Behold I send an Angel before them to keep them in the way and to bring them to the place that I have prepared But beware of him and obey his Vâ—â—ce and provoke him not for he will not pardon your transgressions for my Name is in him Exod. 23.20 21. O consider he will not spare Levites Priests nor Ministers of the House of Israel no more no nor so much as others of the House of Jacob You know what is written Then Moses said unto Aaron This is it the Lord spake saying I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me and before all the People I will be glorified Levit. 10.3 Wherefore let us be faithful Stewards of the manifold Mysteries of God let not us neglest Christ's Work nor corrupt his Work Cursed is and shall he be that doth the Work of the Lord negligently which is deceitfully not doing as many which corrupt the Word of God but of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ 2 Cor. 2.17 But to come nearer Let me humbly offer a few things which I would desire all that are Christ's Ministers to take special care of First Consult often your Commission ponder your instruction for Ministration and do not be a stranger to the Weight and Duty of your Ministry If the Kingly Ministry had need daily to be Looking or Reading in the Book of the Law what his Office and Duty towards God and the People is as from that passage of Deuteronomy was declared certainly even so have Christ's Priestly Ministers much more need to study the Scripture which are Christ's Book of Ordination that we may know how we ought to behave our selves in the House of God the Pillar and Ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 Study to know our
faithful able painful Gospel-Ministers bless God through Jesus Christ for this singular Gift of Grace c. But again Are Ministers of the Gospel such as have been described Christ's Gift and Ordinance both they and their Ministrations then let none intrude or impose upon you the Churches of Christ a Ministry or Ministrations which are none of Christs nor to be found contained in Scripture but being free be not the Servants of Men but remember Paul's Counsel Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men and after the rudiments of the World and not after Christ Let no man at his pleasure bear rule over you by humbleness of mind and worshipping of Angels intruding into these things which he hath not seen vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind Col. 2.8 18. Further let me in the fear of the God Exhort you that injoy Christ's Ministry and their Ministrations Remember to obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you Heb. 13.17 Their Work is hard enough from the men of this World O let it be good from you for whom they endure all things or at least very many things 2 Tim. 2.10 They do not only do much for you but also endure much for you O! therefore let them not indure any thing from you but rather according to Paul's advice Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially such as labour in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 5.17 remembring what is said concerning them without the least shadow of pride or vanity How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad-tydings of peace Rom. 10.15 Now if you would eminently honour and rejoyce your Ministers pray then labour greatly to improve and profit by their Administrations for such as are Christ's faithful Ministers seek not yours but you 2 Cor. 13.14 and have no greater joy than to hear that their Children walk in or according to truth 3 John 4. This makes great rejoycing and thanksgiving by Christ's Ministers when they either hear or see that those they labour among do prosper and their graces grow as we have it Ephes 1.15 16. Wherefore I also when I heard of your Faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the Saints cease not to give thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers whereas to find the Saints and Churches of Christ in a poor low beggarly state of Soul not improving nor profiting under means of Grace this will cause Christ and his Ministers to weep and complain and even sit down and bemoan themselves in the sense of it according to that prophesie Isa 33.7 Behold their valiant ones shall cry without the Ambassadors of Peace shall weep bitterly fulfilled by this Prophet the Type of Christ Then I said I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain Chap. 49.4 And how fully was this Prophesie made good by Christ who when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it Luke 19.41 Wherefore Sirs if you have any love to Christ or compassion towards your Ministers improve them and strive to prosper under their Ministration so will you prevent their grief and give them a good reward for their labour But again to hasten to a conclusion and closing up of the Use of Exhortation pray you if your Ministers be Christ's Ministers and Christs Ministers flow from him depend upon him and minister for him pray you joyn with and assist them in what-ever they for Christ have need of you as Paul directed the Church of the Romans To do for Phebe that ye receive her in the Lord as becometh Saints and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you Rom. 16.2 So say I pray assist your Ministers with your watchfulness with your observation of those they labour among and for Help them with your Informations concerning what you observe wanting either in them or others Help them with your Zeal and readiness to joyn issue with them in any business of Christ like those Holy Ones we read of Exod. 36.1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab and every wise-hearted man in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the Sanctuary according to all that the Lord commanded The like frame of Spirit we read of in those mentioned Ezra 1.5 6. with Nehem. 2.18 where the People of the Lord are found thus doing And they said Let us rise up and build So they strengthened their hands for this good Work But lastly Pray you let me Exhort you to assist Ministers with your Prayers for their good and the prosperity of Christ's work in their hand remembring That whilst Moses 's hands were uplitld by Aaron and Hur Israel prevailed Exod. 17.11 12. Even so my Brethren your incessant Prayers in your Ministers behalf will utterly overthrow Amalek and help Joshua and Israel to prevail And thus I have done with this Exhortation and with what I shall offer to your consideration upon this Scripture wherein I have with what clearness and brevity conveniently I could set before you what Preaching is and whose Ordinance it is who is a truly wise Preacher and what his Work is and the Blessing and Duty of all that enjoy such Preachers Now consider and examine what hath been said and the Lord give you wisdom in all things Amen Amen FINIS
exhort and quicken you that have ears to hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches Take heed that you despise not prophesying 1 Thess 5.20 Christians despise not Christ's day of small things Since out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings he will ordain strength because of the enemy and avenger Psalm 8.2 compared with Matth. 21. Say not in your hearts as once Nathaniel did Can any good thing come out of Nazareth John 1.46 But take heed you despise not him that speaketh on Earth lest that sad word be your word For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this People Read that Chapter at your leasure and you shall see how dreadful God speaks to despisers of this Ordinance of Preaching though by mean and outwardly contemptible Instruments My Beloved know God oft-times hangs great Blessings at the end of small Wyers How great a victory did God give Israel by that Barley Cake as Gideon is called Judg. 7.13 14 15 16. As also how great a Blessing did Naaman the Syrian receive by hearing the Voice of his Servants 2 Kings 5. Yea how great advantage did this very Ordinance bring to the Jews and Greeks when the scattered Saints and Brethren went up and down Preaching and Prophesying Acts 11.19 20 21. Therefore despise not Prophesying I mean Preaching by Brethren that are gifted thereunto although not Ministers or Officers in the Churches So much for this second Doctrine I should now come to speak to the third Point or Doctrine which is Doct. 3. That if Preaching be God's Ordinance and Prophesying and Preaching by Men of Grace and Gifts though no Ministers or Ordained Persons may lawfully Preach then such as are Prophets though no Ministers or Officers of the Church not only may but ought to Preach But because I have spoke something to this in the close of the second Doctrine I shall say no more to this but proceed to the fourth and last Doctrine upon this Head which is drawn from the Description of the qualification of this Prophetical Preacher Solomon to wit That he was Wise as you have it in the Text Moreover because the Preacher was Wise Whence take this Observation to wit Doct. 4. That every Gospel preacher ought to be truly wise or that Grace and Spiritual Wisdom are the true and onely and sufficient Requisites or sufficiency for Gospel-preaching Let me in the carrying on this Work first clear this Point and shew what this Wisdom which every Preacher ought to have is 2ly Give the Reasons why what is affirmed to be the Wisdom required is that which is affirmed And 3ly Resolve some Objections And lastly Make Application of the Point First Take some Witnesses that Gospel-Preachers ought to be Wise This the Lord tells us 〈◊〉 that qualification that all such ought to have a◠draw near him in any peculiar or especial way o◠service or ministration as you have it laid dow◠by Moses in that saying Take you wise men ye understanding and known men among your Tribes an◠I will make them Rulers over you And ma◠what is further said And ye answered me an◠said The thing which thou hast spoken is good fo◠us to do So I took wise men and known eve◠the chief of your Tribes and made them Heads ov◠you this is God's and Moses way for the serving of Israel Deut. 1.13 14 15. Again tak◠that place Prov. 15.2 where you have this expression The Tongue of the Wise useth knowledge a right but the mouth of Fools poureth out foolishness Oh mark it is the wise tongue that wil◠Preach or use Knowledge aright compare thi◠with what we have Vers 7. The lips of the Wis◠disperse Knowledge but the heart of the Foolish doth not so It is wise lips either can or ought to Preach or dispense Divine Knowledge Again take that Passage of our Lord Jesus where he tell us what every Scribe or Teacher in Israel should be one instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven like unto a man that is a Housholder that bringeth ou◠of his Treasury things both new and old Oh! this is the good Scribe or Preacher Mat. 13.52 the like you have Matth. 10.16 with Prov. 1.5 6. further you have this confirmed That a Preacher or Director of others should be wise Eccl. 1.10 for he that sendeth a Message by the hand of a Fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh dammage The legs of the Iame are not equal even so is a Parable in the mouth of fools Prov. 26.6 7. By all which with many Testimonies more that might have been offered you have this Truth confirmed That every Gospel-Preacher ought to be wise Now I come to open the Point and shew you what it is to be Wise or what that Wisdom is that every Gospel-Preacher ought to have I told you in the opening of the words by way of Negation that the Wisdom spoken of in the Text was neither natural moral or acquired Wisdom as Languages Tongues Arts or Sciences but a more sublime and transcendent Wisdom I told you God had not set this Ax or Hammer apart to do his or this Work with these Tools are strangers to any Divine designment for such an end being neither appointed or required in Scripture I told you secondly This Wisdom is but a carnal or natural Weapon and is only meet for carnal natural weak and worldly work and for such purposes this Learning or Wisdom is very fit and useful but no more apt or necessary essentially for Preachers or Preaching than a Sword is to cut ones Beard with or a Plough to ride a Journey on But the Wisdom absolutely necessary for Preaching or a Preacher is Divine Wisdom as I told you which descends from Above more immediately and comes from the Father of Lights and this is that true Wisdom which is put in opposition to the Wisdom before mentioned 1 Cor. 1.17 where the Apostle saith Christ sent him not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel not with wisdom of words lest the Cross of Christ should be of none effect Mark it 's worldly Wisdom or the wisdom of words maketh Christ's Cross to be made ineffectual this is the likelyest good worldly Wisdom wil◠do in Preaching The same thoughts was th◠Apostle Peter of censuring humane Wisdom tha◠it might and did furnish men to pervert but no◠Preach the Gospel where he saith As also in a his Epistles speaking in them of these things i◠which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as the◠do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction Ye therefore Beloved seeing you know thes◠things before beware lest you also being led away with the error of the wicked fall from your ow◠stedfastness 2 Pet. 3.16 17. Now if you would know who these unlearned and unstable wreste◠and perverters of Paul and of all Scriptures are Peter tells us not men wanting Arts and Languages such knew
mouth to cause thy flesh to sin neither say before the Angel it was a sin Eccles 5.6 But this I must speak more to on another particular and therefore shall come to the Reasons of the Point that Preachers had need to give good heed to what they Preach Reas 1. First Because if they Preach heedlesly Christ will mind it heedfully 'T is dangerous Preaching heedlesly in the ears of heedful Hearers but especially in the ears of Jesus Christ whose eyes are like a flame of fire and observes all our deportments in his Concernments If he hear us Preach heedlesly he will set this sin in order before us though he seem to over-look it and we think he hath forgotten it Carelesness and rashness in the Ministry of the Lord's Word meets with swiftest Observation and severest Chastisments Therefore take heed and be holy ye that bear the Vessels of the Lord remembring the case of Nadab and Abihu Levit 10. and of Vzzah 2 Sam. 6.6 7. Reas 2. Secondly The reason of Preachers heedfulness is this The Observance of men Are the Hearers Sinners and the worst of Hearers they will and do observe the best of Preachers and lie as it were in wait to entrap and catch them or intangle them in their talk or Preaching Such as can observe little of the Marrow of Preaching or a Sermon will be able enough to observe all the Mistakes or Errata's of a Sermon Therefore take away occasion from them that seek it as Paul did 2 Cor. 11.12 But again 2ly Let Preachers preach heedfully because of Saints their eyes are upon you and their ears open to you and they are taught of God to know all things and as Spiritual men judge all things and have senses exercised and like these noble Bereans will try all things Therefore O therefore Preach with good heed and Preach only good things for their Knowledge Reas 3. Thirdly Preachers had need Preach heedfully because that which they Preach is hard and difficult to Preach Preaching is not easie Work it is hard Work 't is curious Work it needs much wariness wisdom and circumspection to draw Water out of these Wells of Salvation and to fetch Gold out of these Mines of Divine Wisdom therefore ought they to give good heed to Preaching Reas 4. And lastly Preachers should give good heed how they Preach because of the worth and excellency of what they Preach Though men care not how they scatter their dross yet they are very careful what they do with their refined Gold Though the Husband-man passeth not what he doth with his Chaff yet he is very careful what he doth with his Seed-corn Even so should it be with Preachers they should be very heedful where they Sow and how they bestow their principal Wheat Oh! Sow not upon the Rocks nor on the High-way side but on good Ground and carefully look to your Seed to Christ's Seed it is too choice to sustain any loss Oh therefore heedfully Preach that you lose not your labour nor your reward Thus much for the Reasons of this Point now to close this Head with a word or two of Application First of Reproof Application First If Preachers ought to give good heed how they Preach then this ministers a word of Reproof to such as are heedless Preachers that think it is an easie facile Work to dispense and propagate Truth surely such do not remember the weightiness of Preaching so they can but Preach pleasingly to men profitably to themselves and securely in respect of others they think it is enough never applying themselves to over-see or consider the state of the Flock the various state of their Hearers the avoiding of their Enemies the Salvation of Sinners and the perfecting of the Saints by an acute exact circumspect thorough search and enquiry after Gospel-Truths that they might Speak and Preach as the Oracles of God Well I shall not stand upon this only be minding these of that sad word Cursed be he that doth the Work of the Lord negligently And let these Preachers know what God hath threatned to all slight Preachers by the Prophet Jeremiah saying Therefore I am full of the fury of the Lord I am weary with holding in I will pour it out upon the children abroad and upon the Assembly of young men together for even the Husband with the Wife shall be taken the Aged with him that is full of dayes And their Houses shall be turned unto others with their Fields and Wives together for I will stretch out my hand upon the Inhabitants of the Land saith the Lord For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one of them is given to covetousness and from the Prophet even unto the Priest every one dealeth falsly They have healed also the hurt of the Daughter of my people slightly saying Peace peace when there is no peace Jer. 6.11 12 13 14. Note And so I conclude this Use 'T is a dangerous and a destructive evil to be a sleighty Prophet or Preacher The second Vse is of Exhortation Secondly Let this exhort all wise Gospel-Preachers to remember the Text and also give good heed to the Work of Preaching 'T is not only honourable but difficult likewise 't is high 't is hard Oh therefore give good heed to this Work of Preaching 'T is not man's Work or a Work performed so much for men as for God 'T is Soul-Work as you love Souls or have a value of immortal Souls take heed to your selves in this Work this blessed Work of Preaching Oh be intent upon this thing to seek the profit of many that they may be saved Oh Speak or Preach as Paul words it as you ought to speak Ephes 6.20 study Scripture study Men listen to the Spirit follow its Guidance give your selves up to this Work taking Solomon's Counsel Eccles 9.10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might Oh strive mightily to be spiritually exact and perfect Preachers Oh remember It is required of a Steward that he be found faithful 1 Cor. 4.2 Therefore let me beseech you Men Brethren and Fathers even all you that are Christ's Stewards and Gospel-Preachers give good heed to this thing that you may give up your account with joy and not with grief of heart The third Use is of Vindication Thirdly Let this Doctrine vindicate such Preachers as give good heed in Preaching so to Preach that they may approve themselves good Work-men even Work-men that need not be ashamed dividing the Word aright such as Preach not as pleasing men but as pleasing God which tryeth the hearts 1 Thess 2.4 I say This Truth now cleared will acquit and justifie all such sober serious exquisite faithful painful wise Preachers which give good heed and apply themselves to be Physicians of Value such as endeavour both to sound their own and the peoples hearts and to see that they Preach as the Spirit gives them utterance and guidance Acts 2.4 Such